The Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA) combines apple production with solar energy generation on an experimental farm in Mollerussa. The infrastructure raises the photovoltaic panels to almost five meters in height to allow the passage of agricultural machinery and the normal growth of the trees.
The initiative has been underway for three years and is planned to last five seasons. The main objective is to determine how the shade cast by the modules affects the development of the Golden and Gala varieties. Technicians monitor the complete crop cycle under these specific conditions.
Preliminary studies point to a decrease in fruit production of approximately 25%. This shortfall does not compromise the economic viability of the farm because additional income from the sale of electricity compensates for the drop in agricultural yield. The overall balance is positive for the farmer.
Trees need less water under the panels according to Luis Asín, a researcher at IRTA. The structure provides additional protection against extreme weather events that are increasingly frequent in the Lleida plain. This cover mitigates the plants’ water and thermal stress.
The Golden variety shows superior adaptation to the agrivoltaic system. The panels act as a physical barrier against sunburn that usually affects the skin of the fruit during the months of highest radiation. This factor improves the commercial quality of the final piece.
Floating covers reduce the evaporation of stored water. They limit the appearance of algae on the surface and help maintain a lower temperature in irrigation ponds. These secondary advantages optimize water resource management in areas with structural deficits.
The public company Aigües Segarra-Garrigues has installed a park of floating solar panels on an irrigation pond located in the municipality of Alfés. The infrastructure has 2,800 photovoltaic modules that generate clean electricity without occupying productive agricultural land.
The energy produced is equivalent to the annual consumption of about 700 homes. This capacity allows for reinforcing the canal’s energy self-consumption and reducing the electrical costs associated with pumping irrigation water. The measure decreases dependence on the conventional electrical grid.
The company works on new facilities in the municipal terms of Alcanó and Oliola. The plan seeks to extend this energy efficiency model to other parts of the hydraulic infrastructure of the territory. The expansion aims to maximize the use of existing water surfaces.

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