Hong Kong researchers have designed an agrivoltaic system that uses blockchain technology and smart contracts to reduce uncertainty between solar PV system operators and grape growers. The proposed system uses rainwater to clean and irrigate the solar panels.
The researchers described their findings as “An Integrated Techno-Economic and Life Cycle Assessment for a Distributed Circular Business Model Blockchain Powered Dynamic Viticulture Farm for the Major Wine Growing States of India”, published recently Renewable energy. They said a new system design facilirainwater harvesting where the solar panel tilts to follow the direction of the rain. The system stores and reuses the collected water for irrigation purposes.
The researchers used a circular business model (CBM) based on blockchain and smart contract technologies to coordinate solar system operators and grape growers.
“The proposed system also works without blockchain configuration,” researcher Nallapaneni Manoj Kumar said pv magazine. “But with a blockchain configuration, agricultural electricity works more efficiently with complete coordination, taking into account all the uncertainties that arise between solar energy production and grape cultivation for shared uses, such as crop irrigation and solar panel washing. This is only possible when the system can monitor real-time weather and operate automatically with intelligent by means of contracts.
Academics used sustainability performance, life cycle analysis and techno-economic (RePLiCATE) approach to demonstrate the multi-functional viability of the system in several Indian grape producing states. They argued that the country’s current power purchase agreement (PPA) regulations do not make agro-electricity viable.
“Smart contracts help automate contracts and provide a link to energy and grape trade,” they said.
The research team kept the vine in their 1-hectare “grapevoltaic” farm model–yard design, solar power configurations for vineyards, crop water requirements taking into account evaporation, rainwater recovery possibilities and energy requirements for groundwater extraction. Modeling included 1,458 growing plants in 27 rows and a 504 kW solar installation arranged in 14 rows. The system had panels with a power of 100 W each and dimensions of 1,197 mm × 535 mm. The distance between the modules was 0.13 meters.
The panels have a surface that allows water to flow freely. The panels themselves can be cleaned with water or provide irrigation through a drip system connected to the storage tank.
Scientists said so The total income of a 1-hectare farm full of grapes may vary depending about electricity and grape production, the price of electricityand market prices of grapes. They said the proposed system can reduce water consumption by farmers and solar operators.
“Agrivoltaics is usually a good solution for grape production, because the grape plant tolerates shade, but is also more sensitive to weather conditions.” My teddy bear said. “To avoid these, we need such high-tech systems that can connect, for example, a grape farm to the GrapeNet platform, where trade regulations and grape certifications can be done with one click.”
