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Create a Symbiosis where PV and agriculture can have a mutually beneficial relationship

Project description

Cost-effective photovoltaics solutions combine solar and agriculture

Photovoltaics (PV) can assist in the decarbonisation of the energy sector. However, the adoption rate of PV rooftop systems remains slow, and large utility-scale PV installations in open fields are not feasible in many regions. The concept of agrivoltaics is emerging to overcome these challenges. The EU-funded SYMBIOSYST project will deliver standardised cost-effective solutions for agrivoltaics. This will involve developing PV modules, mounting structures, and operation and maintenance practices that meet the specific needs of different crops, climates and landscapes. The project will ensure the solutions developed are aesthetically pleasing and harmoniously integrated with farming practices.

Objective

The decarbonisation of the energy sector is one of the top priorities at various political levels including at the European level. Photovoltaics (PV) is widely seen as one of the key technologies to drive the energy transition. The difficulties arise when the targets for PV (usually set at national level) needs to be put into practice at regional / local level. Although the PV rooftop potential is extremely large and could potentially contribute to the ambitious targets, the rate of installation of PV rooftop systems will not be fast enough to support a rapid transition. On the other hand, large utility-scale PV installations in open fields are not an option in many regions. It is in this context that the concept of Agrivoltaics is emerging. What several decades of efforts developing Building Integrated PV (BIPV) products and systems for rooftops and facades have taught us is that there are multiple levels of integration and various stakeholders across the value chain which can all generate significant barriers to widespread adoption . Agrivoltaics is in fact in the unique position to learn from the past mistakes made with BIPV which delayed the development of cost-effective BIPV solutions and market acceptance. In SYMBIOSYST we will not develop solutions that are highly customized as this would drive the costs up. We will rather innovate by adapting standardized cost-effective solutions in terms of PV modules, mounting structures and Operation and Maintenance (O&M) practices to the specific needs of various crops in different climates and landscapes. We will also find aesthetically pleasing solutions that can be mass manufactured and integrated with the agricultural land in a harmonious way while maintaining the primary goal of farming. The interdisciplinary consortium in SYMBIOSYST is composed of partners across the value chain with decades of experience in agriculture, precision farming, PV modules and systems, social science and integrated PV applications.

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation Actions

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL5-2022-D3-01

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Coordinator

ACCADEMIA EUROPEA DI BOLZANO
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 461 625,00
Address
VIALE DRUSO 1
39100 Bolzano
Italy

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Region
Nord-Est Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano/Bozen Bolzano-Bozen
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 461 625,00

Participants (16)

Partners (1)

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