Optimal inverter and wire selection for solar photovoltaic fencing applications
Despite the benefits and the economic advantages of agrivoltaics, capital costs limit deployment velocity. One recent potential solution to this challenge is to radically reduce the cost of racking materials by using existing farm fencing as vertical photovoltaic (PV) racking. This type of fenced-based PV system is inherently electrically challenging because of the relatively long distances between individual modules that are not present in more densely packed conventional solar PV farms. This study provides practical insights for inverter selection and wire sizing optimization for fence-based agrivoltaic systems. Numerical simulation sensitivities on the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) were performed for 1) distance from the fence to the AC electrical panel, 2) inverter costs, and 3) geographic locations. The results showed that microinverters had better performance when the cross-over fence length was under 30 m or when the system was designed with less than seven solar PV modules, whereas string inverters were a better selection for longer fences. The cross-over number of modules depends significantly on the cost of the inverters, which is a parameter that influences the system's design. The capital costs for a fence retrofit are far less than for any form of conventional PV racking. In addition, the LCOE of the vertical fencing solar agrivoltaic system can be competitive with conventional ground-mounted solar PV for the niche of farmers. Especially, when they are located between the latitudes of 10° and 50° in either the northern or southern hemisphere, and coupled with their ancillary benefits they represent a great alternative for conventional PV systems.
- For Data and Simulation Files: Check the Project OSF Page
Keywords
[edit | edit source]agrivoltaic; inverter; fencing; vertical;Sustainable development; Open-source; Photovoltaic; solar energy; balance of systems; renewable energy; do-it-yourself
See also
[edit | edit source]- The potential for fencing to be used as low-cost solar photovoltaic racking
- To Catch the Sun
- 3-D printable photovoltaic module spacer
- Open source DIY solar photovoltaic racking
- Circular PV panel
- Open-source Hardware Design of Modular Solar DC Nanogrid
The Western Innovation for Renewable Energy (WIRED) system is currently under construction to test out new open source methods to reduce PV systems costs and enable novel forms of agrivoltaics including the world's first agrivoltaic agrotunnel.
- Coal with Carbon Capture and Sequestration is not as Land Use Efficient as Solar Photovoltaic Technology for Climate Neutral Electricity Production
- Dual use of land for PV farms and agriculture literature review
- sheep
- Israeli white plastic reflectors
- A Farmer's Guide to Going Solar (NREL)
- German guidelines: https://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/content/dam/ise/en/documents/publications/studies/APV-Guideline.pdf
- 2021 review
- Miskin, C.K., Li, Y., Perna, A., Ellis, R.G., Grubbs, E.K., Bermel, P. and Agrawal, R., 2019. Sustainable co-production of food and solar power to relax land-use constraints. Nature Sustainability, 2(10), pp.972-980.
- Retrofitting solar parks for agrivoltaics
- Shading PV
- Alexis' talk at American Solar Grazing Association2021
In the News
[edit source]From: Financial Analysis of Agrivoltaic Sheep: Breeding and Auction Lamb Business Models
- Raising sheep for grazing under solar panels makes everyone clean, green money - Western News
- Sheep Grazing Under Solar Panels Yields Green Profits Mirage News
- Agrivoltaics paired with sheep production makes nearly 100% of land grazable TechXplore
- Agrivoltaics paired with sheep production makes nearly 100% of land grazable MSN
- Grazing ’solar’ sheep offer lucrative solution for farmers My Science
- Global Renwable News
- Rinnovabili
- Education News Canada
- How agrivoltaics and “solar” sheep are redefining profitable farming in Canada PV Buzz
- Nature’s best lawnmower: How solar grazing is changing the photovoltaic landscape Euronews
- Yahoo NewZealand
- Bundle
- Photos: Sheep grazing boosts solar farms and soil health in the US and Europe Interesting Engineering
- O melhor cortador de relva da natureza: como o pastoreio solar está a mudar a paisagem fotovoltaica EuroNews
- La meilleure tondeuse à gazon de la nature : comment le pâturage solaire change le paysage photovoltaïque - Observatoiredeleurope
- Solar sheep grazing under agrivoltaic arrays can maximise land use News9
- El mejor cortacésped natural: ¿Cómo el pastoreo solar está cambiando el panorama fotovoltaico? Yahoo Spain
- ‘Solar shepherds’ earn big by grazing sheep on solar farms — and they benefit everyone involved Modern Science
- Sheep farmers are crazy about solar power plants: “Salaries are higher than lawyers” Central asia Climate Portal
- Researchers make unexpected discovery about sheep raised in nontraditional environment: 'There is an enormous opportunity' The Cool Down
- ‘Solar shepherds’ earn big by grazing sheep on solar farms — and they benefit everyone involved The Conversation
- Får och solparker - en vinst för både lantbruk, får och klimat Energinyheter (se)
- Researchers make unexpected discovery about sheep raised in nontraditional environment: 'There is an enormous opportunity' Yahoo
- Une étude révèle un duo gagnant : moutons et panneaux solaires, “un potentiel immense” Le Energeek
- ‘Farming Sunshine’ Brings Food, Power Producers Together for Local Baaa-nefit The Energy Mix
- Bùng nổ ngành nông nghiệp quang điện Saigon Online
- Solar sheep make better wool? The Carbon Almanac
- How to use sheep to manage vegetation at solar farms, boost agriculture Farm Progress
- Tarımsal Voltaik Sistemler ve Koyunlar Tarim Gundem (Turkish)
- Les « moutons solaires », un mariage lucratif entre agriculture et énergie propre Radio Canada
Agrivoltaics in Canada
[edit source]- Solar Sheep, Alberta (https://www.solarsheep.ca/)
- Sun Cycle Farms, Alberta (https://suncyclefarms.com/)
- Golden Leaf Agrivoltaics, Ontario (https://goldenleafagrivoltaics.ca/)
- The Lara Cost Farm, Ontario (https://thelaracosta.com/)
- Arnprior Solar, Ontario (https://www.edf-re.com/project/arnprior-solar/)
- Lewis Land & Stock, Ontario (https://solargrazing.org/asga-call-29-don-lewis-from-lewis-land-stock-of-ontario-canada/)
- Nanticoke Solar, Ontario (https://www.opg.com/stories/hundreds-of-grazing-sheep-helping-to-keep-opgs-nanticoke-solar-facility-in-trim-shape/)
- Western University’s Western Innovation for Renewable Energy Deployment (WIRED) (https://www.appropedia.org/Western_Innovation_for_Renewable_Energy_Deployment_(WIRED))
- Orchard, Middlesex, Ontario
- Solar Grazing Map https://solargrazing.org/map/
| Authors | Koami Soulemane Hayibo, Joshua M. Pearce |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Organizations | FAST, Western University |
| Cite as | Koami Soulemane Hayibo, Joshua M. Pearce (2022–2026). "Optimal inverter and wire selection for solar photovoltaic fencing applications". Appropedia. Retrieved June 2, 2026. |
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