Photovoltaic panels installed on tea trees

How does solar PV work in tea plant?

The Solar PV panels are mounted above the tea shrubs and it does not affect the growth of tea and make effective use of land. This plant consists of 197,800 dual glass solar PV modules and the annual production is estimated as 80,000 MWh. Also, it mitigates the emission of 80,000 tonnes of CO 2 into the atmosphere [ 27 ].

Do solar panels help tea plants grow?

All the tea gardens in the survey agreed that the installation of large solar panels within the garden would not impact the growth of tea plants. The study also revealed that tea estates preferred to adopt solar among the alternative energy sources.

Can agrivoltaics be used in tea gardens?

Agrivoltaics, a method to combine agriculture and solar photovoltaics in the same plot of land, is also being considered for tea gardens. Tea garden managers will have to factor in wildlife movement spaces to sustainably integrate solar installations in such tea estates, note experts.

Is solar PV a good alternative energy source for tea manufacturing industry?

From Fig. 15, it is clear that Munnar has a good potential of solar irradiance (above 600 W/m 2) during the solar noon in all months. So, the deployment of Solar PV in Munnar could be a good alternative energy source for grid electricity in tea manufacturing industry. Fig. 14.

What is a photovoltaic solar tree?

The photovoltaic solar tree is an alternative to increase the efficiency of photovoltaic systems by optimizing inclination angles and reducing the occupied area. A solar tree design usually aims to maximize the electrical energy generation in a given area whereas the traditional solar photovoltaic system aims to minimize the energy cost generated.

How much space does a tea factory need for solar panels?

The withering area in tea processing factories, for example, can be over 40,000 sq. ft. and can thus provide considerable space for solar panels,” Goswami, senior scientist and director at Conservation Initiatives told Mongabay-India. Banner image: Solar PVs at the Rosekandy tea estate. Photo by Roofsol Energy.