Applied and comparative analysis of agrivoltaic systems based on monofacial and biffacial panels in Van province

Increasing population, global warming, and epidemics have led to energy and food crises worldwide. This has led to increased interest in agrivoltaic systems both globally and in Turkey. In this study, agrivoltaic applications were carried out in the Tuşba and Başkale districts of Van province. Two different types of photovoltaic panels were used in the study: a bifacial panel in Tuşba, and a monofacial panel in Başkale. The performance ratio (PR) of the bifacial solar power plant in Tuşba was 80%, with an electrical loss of 3% between the two panels, while the PR of the monofacial solar power plant in Başkale was 84.2%, with an electrical loss of 3% between the two panels. Eggplant and radish were grown under the bifacial panels. Lettuce, radish, arugula, and cress were grown under the monofacial panels. Temperature and humidity measurements taken under the panel showed 3–6 °C higher temperature and 5–7% higher humidity compared to those taken above the panel. Land equivalent ratio (LER) values for the bifacial system were calculated as 1.6 for eggplant and 2.02 for radish. In the monofacial system, LER values were found to be 2.05 for lettuce, 2.14 for cress, 2 for arugula, and 2 for radish. When the yields of radish grown under both panel types were compared, a 7% yield loss was determined under the monofacial panel compared to the bifacial panel. This difference was attributed to the reduced amount of light reaching the plants due to the opaque glass covering the intercellular spaces in the monofacial panels.