Agri-PV pilot in Morschenich-Alt close to Jülich. Photo by Forschungszentrum-Jülich. More info here.

PVRADAR Labs Launches Innovation Project "APV-Monitor"

We are excited to announce that PVRADAR Labs, in collaboration with Volateq and Forschungszentrum Jülich, has launched the research project "APV-Monitor" as part of the Energie.In.NRW innovation competition. The project aims to enhance the operation of agri-photovoltaic (Agri-PV) systems through novel monitoring and operational optimization solutions. Agri-PV enables the simultaneous use of agricultural land for food production and solar energy generation – a key technology for the energy transition and sustainable agriculture.

Project Goals

The main goal of the "APV-Monitor" project is to optimize the operation of Agri-PV systems through innovative technologies. The focus areas are:

• Economic-technical optimization: Existing methods for managing PV systems will be adapted to the specific demands of Agri-PV to maximize yields and reduce costs.
• Integrated monitoring: We are developing a combined monitoring solution that integrates drone technology with imaging to monitor both PV modules and agricultural land. This solution will utilize fully automated and high-frequency systems.

Key Steps

1. Automation of monitoring flights: A mobile docking station for drones will be developed, enabling automated flights to capture data from PV modules and agricultural areas. This reduces the need for manual intervention and significantly lowers operating costs.
2. Data analysis and separation: The collected data will be analyzed using advanced software, specifically tailored for PV modules and agricultural land. This allows for precise analysis of contamination, damage, and plant growth.
3. Adaptation of existing measurement methods: Our proven solutions for contamination and damage detection, as well as 3D modeling of plants, will be further developed specifically for Agri-PV systems.
4. Validation of measurement methods: The entire solution will be validated in a real Agri-PV test facility to ensure reliable performance across different environments.

Expected Outcomes

By the end of the project, an innovative, fully automated monitoring solution for Agri-PV systems will be available, optimizing operations and increasing economic profitability. The insights and technologies developed will enable PVRADAR Labs and our partners to further enhance our software solutions and scale them to the growing Agri-PV market. These developments will not only benefit Agri-PV system operators but also contribute to the broader energy transition.

We look forward to the upcoming developments and to making a significant contribution to the future of sustainable energy and agriculture alongside our partners.

Project Partners

“APV-Monitor" is a collaborative project between PVRADAR, a provider of modeling software for optimizing PV system operations, Volateq, a specialist in drone-based monitoring solutions, and Forschungszentrum Jülich, a leading German research institute renowned for its expertise in Agri-PV technologies. Together, we are working to advance the integration of sustainable energy and agriculture.

Project Financing

The APV Monitor Research Project is co-financed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the European Union.