Agri-Light Energy Systems, an Israeli agrivoltaic startup, recently launched its first pilot project in the Negev Desert. The company is using patented technology based on two-axis sun tracking.
The first project features a rail system to move the solar panels horizontally above the crops, while the second will position them at an optimal angle toward the sun.
“The first pilot, installed above a vineyard in Ramat Negev of southern Israel, tests eight varieties of wine grapes against a control plot. It is accompanied by agronomic research,” CEO Udi Wild told pv magazine. “Initial data on the panels’ impact on the vineyard will be collected after the planned August harvest.”
The tested plot is 1,000 square meters with 100 PV modules installed at a height of 3 meters. Each panel provides 540 W of rated power.
“Agri-Light’s solution addresses the conflict of balancing the necessary sunlight for crops and solar panels,” said Wild. “We solve it by managing shading positions without compromising electricity production. It enables more comfortable plant growth conditions – reducing the temperature in extreme and prolonged weather conditions, protecting against hail and frost, and saving irrigation water due to reduced evaporation.”
“The development is based on algorithms installed in a control system, fed by sensors distributed throughout the plot, allowing for precise positioning of the shade cast by the panels over the ground based on specific growth needs,” Wild explained. “We are also developing a system that will allow more precise prediction and adaptation, utilizing AI technologies.
Wild added that the company is due to initiate several commercial projects in Israel and Spain in 2025. In addition, Agri-Light is currently working to promote pilots in Europe, the United States, and Africa.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment.
Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website. Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so.
You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately. Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled.
Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy.