Prediction of Effects of Solar Panel Control Methods on Solar Radiation on the Ground under the Panels and Power Generation in an Agrivoltaic System with Rotatable Panels

To avoid significant crop quality degradation and yield reduction, it is necessary to establish a suitable solar panel arrangement and control method in an agrivoltaic system. We have developed a model to predict solar radiation on the ground under the solar panels in an agrivoltaic system with rotatable panels. The validity of the model was confirmed by comparison of predictions with the observed solar radiation in a paddy field provided with an agrivoltaic system. The effect of rotation direction of solar panels tracking the sun (east to west or north to south) was then investigated using the model. The results showed that east-west sun tracking control was superior in terms of spatial uniformity of solar radiation under the panels and of power generation, although the total annual solar radiation on the ground was smaller than with the north‒south control. © 2021 The Society of Chemical Engineers, Japan.