An Italian research team has developed a 121-sensor monitoring platform for agrivoltaic greenhouses, integrating PV performance, microclimate analysis, and automated irrigation control. Tested under real conditions in a semi-transparent PV greenhouse, the system enables detailed crop-environment monitoring and provides a foundation for future Digital Twin-based adaptive management.
An Italian research team has developed a monitoring system for agrivoltaic greenhouses that integrates 121 sensors across three main subsystems: PV system performance monitoring, greenhouse microclimate and environmental sensing, and automated irrigation management.
“The contribution of this work is threefold,” the researchers said. “First, the development of a modular and integrated microclimate monitoring and irrigation architecture tailored for pilot greenhouse research applications; second, the deployment and operational validation within a semi-transparent PV-equipped greenhouse under real environmental conditions; and third, the demonstration of enhanced irrigation responsiveness and monitoring stability, establishing a scalable foundation for future Digital Twin-based adaptive control.”
The study was carried out within the EU-funded REGACE project at a pilot agrivoltaic greenhouse in Pontinia, central Italy. The site has a Mediterranean climate, with annual global horizontal irradiation exceeding 1,600 kWh/m². Temperatures typically range from around 4 C in winter to 31 C in summer.
