Protecting orchards using agrivoltaics

For apple and pear growers, too much sun can be a costly problem, as bleached, sunburned fruit won’t make the premium grade.

But what if that harsh sunlight could be put to work instead of causing damage? 

At Agriculture Victoria’s Tatura SmartFarm, researchers are testing agrivoltaics – solar panels placed over a pear orchard –to create afternoon shade while producing clean energy.

Early results show a dramatic reduction in fruit surface temperature, reducing sunburn damage to near zero.

Read full article by Olivia Wu, Alessio Scalisi, Lexie K McClymont and Ian Goodwin (Agriculture Victoria) in Australian Tree Crop Magazine