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Trigo Solar
Benefits

Trigo Solar features and benefits

Trigo Solar brings the best of two worlds:  It provides cost-effective state-of-the-art photo-voltaic system with comparable yield and cost of energy to traditional modern solar systems, while at the same time it improves crop yield and profitability of the farmer.  Below is an overview of the unique features and benefits of our Trigo solution

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how agri-solar supports food security?

Climate changes and the increase in population lead to decrease in available arable land and to scarcity of fresh water. Simultaneous use of the land both for energy generation and food production solves our most pressing challenges:

  • reduce emissions by transitioning to renewable energy
  • preserve food security amidst growth in population; reduction in availability of agricultural land, and accelerated desertification
  • Increasing the amount of water available for agriculture, in particular for staple food based on rain-fed crops
  • Preserve agricultural workforce by improving the economics of rain-fed agriculture
Why Trigo Solar is focusing on rain-fed crops?

We believe that the greatest potential lies in rain fed crops for the main following reasons

  • Rain-fed farming produces 60 percent of the world’s food on 80 percent of the cultivated land; Finding a viable dual-use for rain-fed crops is solving 80% of the problem.
  • Unlike other agri-voltaic methods that focus on optimal use of the sun, Trigo Solar is focusing on water management.  The yield of rain-fed crops is mostly proportional to the amount of water. By diverting rain water from the solar panels to the crops, we maintain yield while generating energy.
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Front View
How does Trigo Solar maintain total yield?

The yield of rain-fed crops is proportional to the amount of precipitation. We divert rainwater from area with the solar panels to the crops, thus increasing the amount of effective precipitation per cultivated area, and maintaining total yield.

Solar structures are installed from north to south, creating strips of crops. The ratio between solar and crops depends on the climate, and is typically 40% solar and 60% crops.

Rain water from the solar structure are diverted to the crop, effectively increasing precipitation by 65%.

Initial field results demonstrate that the increase in effective precipitation leads to similar increase in yield. That means that Trigo Solar method preserve nearly the same total yield, while still using 40% of the area for harvesting solar energy.

    What are the financial benefits to the farmer?

    With Trigo Solar, the farmer has to cultivate only part of the area for the same yield. That means that Trigo reduces farmers’ expenses: less seeds to buy, less pestesizers to use, less tractors to operate, and less fertilizers.

    Trigo Solar can potentially improves the quality of the crops. field trial demonstrate improvement in wheat quality: higher protein content, higher hectoliter and grain weight. That often means that Trigo can increase farmer's income per kg, as higher quality grains sell for better price.

    In addition, the farmer can now generate additional income from energy generation.

    Profit
    with trigo without trigo rain
    Trigo provides drought-shield for semi-arid areas

    The effective increase in precipitation provides the crops with drought-Shield.  With Trigo Solar method, even in years of severe droughts, crops will get effective precipitation well above the drought level..

    For example, if in a certain year we have seasonal precipitation of 200 mm (~8" rain), most crops will be water-stressed and will not develop properly for grains. 

    However, with Trigo Solar, and assuming coverage ratio of 60% crops and 40% solar, the crops will receive 330 mm, well above the drought levels, and the plant will develop well.  (200 mm * 100% / 60% = 330 mm)

      Built-in water distribution system allows for additional cropping seasons

      One of the many benefits of Trigo Solar is the built-in water distribution system. We diverts and distribute rainwater using an independent sprinkler system that includes powerful pumps and long-range sprinklers.

      The built-in irrigation system can be used for supplemental irrigation during the wet season, and for additional dropping season during the dry season

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      Same machinery, same protocols

      Trigo Solar solution can be deployed with different crops, and different strip width. Thus, farmers can maintain the same methods and machinery.

      For example, in the case that the machinery width is 8 meters, crop strips can be 16 or 24 meters wide.  In the case the machinery is 9 meter wide, strips can be 18 or 27 meters wide. 

      Similarly, if average precipitation is low, the design will be based on higher ratio between solar and crop.