Photovoltaism, Agriculture and Ecology

Claude Grison is a Research Director at the CNRS and a national corresponding member of the National Academy of Pharmacy. She is the originator of a new concept, that of ecological chemistry.Lucie Cases is a Chemical Engineer at the CNRS in the ChimEco laboratory. A graduate of the National School of Chemistry in Montpellier, she specializes in sustainable chemistry.Mailys Le Moigne is a Student Engineer at the Purpan School, Toulouse, specializing in agriculture, agri-food and the environment.Martine Hossaert-McKey is an Emeritus Research Director at the CNRS in the ChimEco laboratory and at the CEFE in Montpellier. She is also in charge of Biodiversity and Overseas Missions for the CNRS.

• Foreword by Yvon Le Maho ixForeword by Thomas Lesueur xiiiIntroduction xvChapter 1. Photovoltaics: Concepts and Challenges 11.1. Brief description of the different photovoltaic cell technologies 11.1.1. Photovoltaic versus thermal solar panels 91.2. Different types of photovoltaic installations 91.3. Legislation 101.4. Advantages of photovoltaics 111.5. Disadvantages of photovoltaics 121.6. Some figures on the environmental footprint compared to other energy sources 131.7. Origin of the silicon needed for the construction of photovoltaic cells 161.8. End of life of solar panels 171.9. Degree of maturity of material recycling 171.10. Location and mode of development of photovoltaics 181.10.1. Photovoltaic panels on roofs 181.10.2. Ground-mounted photovoltaic panels: creating solar fields on unused industrial wastelands and parking lots 261.10.3. Creating solar fields in arid areas 321.10.4. Creating photovoltaic parks on water 35Chapter 2. Photovoltaic Energy Production and Agricultural Activity: Agrivoltaics 372.1. Definition–legislation–adaptation and evolution of techniques 382.2. Food crops 452.2.1. Fish farming 462.2.2. Oyster farming 472.2.3. Viticulture 492.2.4. Arboriculture and fruit production 502.2.5. Field crops 532.2.6. Market gardening: shades, greenhouses, protective structures for environmental conditions 542.2.7. Other crops 552.2.8. Pasture and livestock 57Chapter 3. Innovative Principle of Ecovoltaics 633.1. Definition and concept 633.2. State of the art: feedback 643.2.1. Constraints of the experimental site in Occitanie 643.2.2. Planting of species of interest in biodynamic agriculture on the grounds of solar parks 693.2.3. Planting of melliferous species 813.2.4. Installation of regionally endangered species 883.2.5. Installation of medicinal species 893.3. Assessment – issues 913.3.1. Positive impact on soil quality 913.3.2. Positive impact on faunal biodiversity 933.4. Perspectives 973.4.1. Regulations for the marketing of plants or plant extracts for use in biodynamic agriculture 97Appendices 103Appendix 1 105Appendix 2 113Appendix 3 115References 121Index 135