Orchard agrivoltaic structure

for arboriculture

Summary
Protect orchards from spring frost, drought and heat with the dynamic agrivoltaic solution offered by Sun’Agri. Field-tested system designed to increase orchard resilience while producing electricity and remaining compatible with agricultural mechanization.

Protection & observed benefits

• Reduction of excessive heat: up to -4°C in air temperature during heatwaves according to presented tests.
• Ground-level cooling effect: up to -10°C at soil surface in some field measurements.
• Reduced water use: reported savings vary (e.g., 30% water saved; also mentions of ~27% and 20% savings depending on studies/measurements cited).
• Improved fruit quality: better size, firmness, shelf life and color; about -10% reduction in sunburn incidents on apples.
• Reduced plant stress: leaf-surface temperature differences up to 10°C between protected and control plots, helping maintain tree growth during hot episodes.
• Frost mitigation benefit: measurements report gains up to +1.7°C at night or up to +3°C under panels depending on context and measurement.

Principles and components of the solution

• Mobile solar louvers mounted approximately 5 m above rows to modulate incoming radiation.
• Artificial intelligence control that adjusts panel tilt in real time (up to 90°) according to tree growth stage, production objectives and weather forecasts.
• Agroclimatic and physiological sensors collected in real time to drive louver positioning.
• Structure designed to be dismantlable, recyclable and durable (design life target: 30 years).
• Manufacture using European recycled or recyclable steel (mention of recycled materials).
• Compatibility with mechanization and orchard work: low ground footprint, possibility to share structure with trellising, irrigation fittings or netting.

Agronomic monitoring and control

• Project monitoring by agronomic engineers with systematic comparison to an adjacent control plot.
• Sun’Agri app for the operator: real-time louver control visualization, weather and agronomic data monitoring, personalized alerts (heatwave, frost risk).
• 30 hours/year of autonomous panel piloting (manual takeover possible for machinery passage or emergency decisions).
• Awards: the application has been recognized (Focus Innovation 2024, Dionysud fair).

Project process (main stages)

• Launch: on-site agronomic diagnosis by an arboriculture expert engineer.
• Administrative: management of administrative procedures and relations with local institutions (building permits, electrical grid connection, stakeholder consultation).
• Financing: support (partial or full co‑investment, obtaining power purchase agreements depending on cases).
• Construction: coordination and supervision of construction and grid connection.
• Planting & control: planting after construction and definition of adapted control practices.
• First harvests: 1 to 3 years after commissioning depending on crop type.

Characteristics / technical specifications

• Solution type: dynamic agrivoltaics (mobile solar louvers + AI control).
• Installation height: louvers installed at ~5 m above rows.
• Panel tilt: real-time control up to 90°.
• Target service life: designed for 30 years.
• Materials: structure in European recycled / recyclable steel (100% dismantlable).
• Compatibility: designed to be compatible with mechanization and row operations.
• Monitoring & connectivity: agroclimatic/physiological sensors and dedicated operator application.
• Service: agronomic follow-up with control plot, regular measurements and alerts.