It is a project that could mark the history of agrivoltaism with a milestone. With 31 MWp installed on 55 hectares, the the Sombernon power station will become, from next year, the first installation to associate solar trackers et production of field crops In France. Located west of Dijon, the site will also exceed in size the few demonstrators currently in operation, including some in Germany.
Three farmers (Julien Duthu, Romain Duthu and Eric Fevret) are partners in the project. Eric Fevret explains: “It always seemed interesting to me to produce energy on these plots with low profitability and close to the largest transformer in Burgundy, while maintaining agricultural production. As I approach retirement, I wanted to pass on these areas to a young farmer, with a agrivoltaic project which values them more. »
Pivoting trackers to follow the path of the sun…
“These plots are indeed special,” confirms its buyer, Julien Duthu. The large number of electricity pylons already made them complicated to operate but, in addition, the earth is shallow. As in the entire region, we are increasingly impacted by climate change. Over the past five years, we estimate between 20 and 30% yield losses due to droughts. » The shade cast by the panels should reduce the need for water resources crops via a reduction in evapotranspiration.
As with other large-scale agrivoltaic projects, a major challenge had to be taken up: reconciling solar energy production and mechanization. Elise Garesse, responsible for the agricultural aspect of the project for Akuo, worked in collaboration with the farmers to ensure that the passage of the machines was compatible with the trackers, whose particularity is to follow the path of the sun, without their presence generates too much additional working time.
…and controllable to adapt to machines and crops
“Trackers are, in our opinion, the technology most suited to large crops,” underlines the manager. They make it possible to have rows spaced sufficiently apart to allow most agricultural machinery to circulate and are controllable, which allows them to be positioned not only to facilitate passage, but also to adjust the height of the low point, which allows flexibility. at the level of possible cultures. »
An opinion shared by Julien Duthu: “It’s really the power plant that adapts to the crops, and not the other way around,” says the farmer. Another major advantage is that solar trackers offer the possibility of collecting rainwater. In Sombernon, this innovative system will be used to power a sprinkler system which will help secure the raising of summer crops with higher added value on three hectares, as well as to irrigate a four-hectare truffle field.
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