The Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza National University of Amazonas is executing the project “Agrovoltaic systems: energy, water and food sovereignty for adaptation to climate change in the high Andean zone of the Amazon region.”
This technology combines the generation of electrical energy through photovoltaic panels with agricultural activity, optimizing the use of solar and soil energy for productive activities.
The project evaluates three photovoltaic panel technologies: “monofacial” ones, which capture sunlight only on their upper face; the “bifacial”, capable of capturing sunlight on both its upper and lower sides; and the “semi-transparent” ones, which capture sunlight on their upper side, but allow partial passage of light, which favors the development of the crops installed beneath them.
These panels take advantage of the combination of shade and diffuse sunlight to improve crop performance.
This practice encourages agricultural production, contributing to food sovereignty and the economic development of the region. The project also includes an innovative system for collecting rainwater that falls on the photovoltaic panels, allowing it to be stored for use in irrigating crops and cleaning the panels.
This initiative is part of the university commitment to the sustainable management of water resources and adaptation to climate change in Amazonas, by promoting the use of renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and resilience to environmental challenges in the region.
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