Dig-e-Farm research project – agrivoltaics in Tunisia

As part of the Dig-e-Farm research project, Professor Navarro-Gevers from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering is working with the LaRINa Research Institute in Tunis to develop innovative approaches to resource-efficient and climate-resilient agriculture.
The focus is on agricultural photovoltaics in Tunisia, i.e. the intelligent combination of crop cultivation and photovoltaics on the same land. This concept enables dual use of the land and helps to sustainably combine energy generation with food production.
A key focus of the research is the question: what is the optimal combination of photovoltaics and crop cultivation? To this end, various system configurations are being investigated to better understand and specifically optimise the effects on the microclimate, water consumption and crop yields.
Dig-e-Farm takes a holistic approach and uses artificial intelligence to efficiently control irrigation and energy use. This allows agricultural processes to be optimised on a data-driven basis and resources to be significantly saved. 
The project bridges research and practice through real-world pilot applications in Tunisia and embodies close international collaboration. It is supported scientifically by, among others, Rushabh Bansilal Jain, a PhD student at the Institute for New Energy Systems at THI.
 

Further information: www.smart-agripv-tunisia.com