Agriculture Projects Partnerships Renewable Energy

Qair and Insolight Launch Innovative Agrivoltaic Project Fragolab

Qair and Insolight have launched Fragolab, a pilot agrivoltaic project combining strawberry cultivation with solar energy production.
Image provided by Insolight.

Key Takeaways

  1. Innovative Agrivoltaic Project: Qair and Insolight have launched Fragolab, a pilot agrivoltaic project combining strawberry cultivation with solar energy production.
  2. Multifaceted Benefits: The project addresses agricultural, energy, and ecological challenges by protecting crops, generating green energy, and promoting sustainable practices.
  3. Technological Advancements: Fragolab uses semi-translucent, bi-glass solar panels manufactured in France, significantly reducing the carbon footprint.
  4. Support and Recognition: The project is supported by the France 2030 plan, aiming to advance innovative technologies and ecological transition.
  5. Future Goals: Qair aims to become a leading agrivoltaic player in France by 2027, leveraging insights from Fragolab to enhance agricultural resilience to climate change.

Qair and Insolight Launch Innovative Agrivoltaic Project Fragolab

Introduction to Fragolab

Qair, an independent renewable energy producer, has announced the inauguration of Fragolab, an innovative pilot agrivoltaic project developed in partnership with Insolight, a specialist in agrivoltaic solutions. This groundbreaking project combines the cultivation of Carpentras strawberries under agrivoltaic greenhouses with photovoltaic electricity production using semi-translucent, controllable solar panels and a shading screen.

Agricultural and Environmental Impact

Located in Uchaux, Vaucluse, the Fragolab site covers 0.2 hectares and houses 18,680 Cléry strawberry plants. The project, operational since November 2023, produces 12.5 tonnes of strawberries annually, marketed locally. The greenhouses protect the plants from climate hazards and pests like the drosophila, ensuring optimized production.

Fragolab addresses several key challenges:

  • Agricultural: It protects crops from weather extremes and pests, reduces water stress, improves work ergonomics, and extends the production period until August.
  • Energy: The project generates green energy, optimizing photovoltaic electricity production with Insolagrin’s shading solution, benefiting from the region’s high solar exposure with about 300 sunny days per year.
  • Ecological: Equipped with French-made photovoltaic panels, Fragolab supports the ecological transition in agriculture by promoting integrated pest management and reducing plastic use.

Innovative Agrivoltaic Technology

Fragolab employs innovative semi-translucent bi-glass solar panels with cell densities ranging from 30% to 60%. These panels, incorporating diffusing glass, ensure uniform light distribution within the greenhouses, allowing optimal light penetration for strawberry cultivation. The 720 panels, produced by Voltec Solar in Alsace, have a carbon footprint nearly half that of Chinese-made panels.

Support from France 2030

As a recipient of the France 2030 plan, which aims to invest heavily in innovative technologies and support ecological transitions, Fragolab exemplifies efforts to “produce better,” “live better,” and “understand the world better.” This experimental project includes three greenhouses and five transparency configurations to compare agricultural and energy production outcomes.

Scientific monitoring, conducted with APREL, will focus on agronomic aspects (plant development, yield, ferti-irrigation) and quality metrics (laboratory measurements: sugar, acidity, sensory analysis). These efforts aim to identify the most suitable configuration for Carpentras strawberries in Provence.

Stakeholder Statements

Philippe Rollet, Head of Agri-Energies France at Qair, expressed his satisfaction: “We are happy to see this project come to fruition with the support of Insolight’s teams. Fragolab aligns perfectly with Qair’s agrivoltaic ambition to become one of the main agrivoltaic players in France by 2027. This unique pilot project will fine-tune this emerging sector through innovations and varied configurations. By making strawberry production more resilient to climate change, Fragolab will provide reliable references and high-performance technological solutions for farmers.”

Sylvain Bernard, an agricultural operator at EARL La Comtesse, added: “Faced with increasing difficulties, I am convinced that innovation is key to sustaining agriculture. Since 2020, our farm has used an agrivoltaic greenhouse to protect our crops from climatic hazards while producing green electricity. Building on this success, we are now experimenting with an innovative agrivoltaic solution for our strawberries. The Fragolab project, supported by numerous partners, aims to find a sustainable model for this iconic Provence crop.”

Laurent Coulot, CEO of Insolight, commented: “We are delighted with our collaboration and partnership with Qair in this Fragolab project in Uchaux, which constitutes a true Provençal agrivoltaic laboratory. By combining solar technology with agriculture through our Insolagrin solution, we empower producers to contribute to the energy transition and sustainable agriculture.”

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