Agricultural solar power generation modules

Abstract

The subject matter of the present disclosure relates to agricultural photovoltaic modules (sometimes also referred to as agricultural photovoltaic modules) designed to increase the productive use of available areas. Agricultural photovoltaic modules can enable agricultural growth and energy production, for example, by using photovoltaic cell(s), while using the same area (land space, lake, rooftop, etc.), and therefore agricultural photovoltaic modules can provide a good solution to this problem. This can help overcome laws / regulations in different countries, for example, where land cannot be used solely for solar energy cultivation but must be integrated with agricultural purposes. The produced photovoltaic energy can either be used by the components of the module or directed to an external power system.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The subject matter of the present disclosure relates generally to the field of agricultural photovoltaic modules, and more particularly to the field of units that enable plant growth and the production of photovoltaic energy. [Background technology]

[0002] Available land space is becoming a scarce commodity in rural areas as well as large cities. In recent years, people have begun to recognize the value of organic produce and are therefore looking for ways to grow their own vegetables. Accordingly, many urban residents around the world have begun growing vegetables and / or tending small rooftop gardens. For rooftop gardens to thrive, agricultural growth requires sunlight, water, and, of course, a suitable growing bed. Therefore, small personal units are said to provide these conditions, enabling individual rooftop growing units. Additionally, farmers around the world are constantly seeking ways to increase their yields and have therefore begun incorporating different types of plants to maximize available land space. In the energy sector, it is common to see photovoltaic cells placed over water reservoirs to utilize these areas for energy production, without taking up space elsewhere.

[0003] The use of available land is becoming a scarce commodity and so it needs to be used wisely. Both energy and agricultural products are very important to people all over the world, and therefore a "struggle" between the use of available land for agricultural purposes or for the production of solar photovoltaic energy can be seen in many places.

[0004] For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 082697 discloses a low-maintenance, water-saving container gardening system used to grow plants, vegetables, herbs, fruits, and flowers indoors or outdoors. The system uses one or more gardening containers, each having a water-rising structure that induces a slow, consistent upward flow of nutrients / fluids into the soil and a nutrient / fluid drainage promotion structure that directs excess nutrients / fluids away from the plant roots when the pump is stopped. The system uses solar panels to provide energy for the pump.

[0005] Chinese Utility Model No. 209861787 discloses a cultivation device for growing vegetable seedlings. A water tank is located at the bottom of the box body, auxiliary plant lights and a telescopic device are located at the top of the box body, and a humidity sensor is located at the bottom of the seedling tray. A solar cell panel is located at the top end of the support rod and locally supplies energy to, for example, the lights located in the box, sensors, and motors.

[0006] The acknowledgment of the above references herein should not be inferred as meaning that they are relevant to the patentability of the subject matter of this disclosure. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The subject matter of the present disclosure relates to agricultural photovoltaic modules (sometimes referred to as agricultural photovoltaic modules) designed to increase the productive use of available areas. Agricultural photovoltaic modules can enable agricultural growing and energy production, for example, by using photovoltaic cell(s), while using the same area (land space, lake, rooftop, etc.), and thus agricultural photovoltaic modules can provide a good solution to this problem. This can help overcome laws / regulations in different countries, for example, where land cannot be used solely for solar energy cultivation but must be integrated with agricultural purposes.

[0008] In some embodiments, the agricultural solar photovoltaic modules are portable, at least when empty, and can be easily transported around the world and relocated to any desired location. Portable agricultural solar photovoltaic modules can be easily moved according to the needs of a farmer or the unique landscape of any location, or can be placed on rooftops and / or water reservoirs, etc.

[0009] Accordingly, the present subject matter discloses an agricultural photovoltaic module comprising a growth tray having a bottom surface and peripheral sidewalls configured to facilitate a growth bed enabling the growth of one of plants or animals, and a photovoltaic cell positionable on the growth tray configured to produce photovoltaic energy.

[0010] The produced solar photovoltaic energy is either used by the components of the module or directed to an external power system. In some embodiments, a majority of the produced solar photovoltaic energy is directed to the external power system. In some embodiments, all of the produced solar photovoltaic energy is directed to the external power system.

[0011] The agricultural photovoltaic modules according to the presently disclosed subject matter have several unique features and / or elements identified below in different aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter, each of which contributes to the module's ability to operate under different conditions and / or enable the production of photovoltaic energy, optionally with a majority of the photovoltaic energy being directed for use by an external power system in conjunction with the growing of different agricultural products that may require different growing beds, such as solid / semi-solid / semi-liquid / or hydroponic and / or aquaponics farming, etc. The module features according to different aspects identified below, and other features described in the detailed description of the embodiments, can be combined with each other in any combination according to further aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein.

[0012] An agricultural photovoltaic module includes two basic elements: a growth tray and photovoltaic cells. The growth tray can be configured to promote a growing bed of soil, fertilizer, ash, perlite, peat, etc., that can enable agricultural growth of plants, such as vegetables, flowers, shrubs, grapes, vines, poultry, and bees. The growth tray can have a bottom and peripheral sidewalls that can define a basin in which the growing bed can be promoted. The photovoltaic cells can be positioned above the growth tray, thereby increasing the direct line of sight of sunlight or artificial lighting. Also, by being positioned above the growth tray, the photovoltaic cells can shade plants growing in the growth tray. For example, they can reduce the plants' exposure to direct sunlight, especially during the midday hours, i.e., the hottest hours of the day. In addition, the photovoltaic cells can also shade plants during heavy rains that can be harmful to delicate plants, such as flowers or herbs.

[0013] The photovoltaic cells are configured to produce photovoltaic energy, at least a majority of the produced photovoltaic energy being directed to an external power system that may be external to the elements that make up the agricultural photovoltaic module, such as an external power grid, a battery, an end user, any combination thereof, and / or any other electrical energy transport, consumption, and / or storage device. Thus, the photovoltaic cells may produce more energy than is needed and / or consumed by the agricultural photovoltaic module, whereby at least a majority of the produced photovoltaic energy may not be intended to power energy-related elements of the module, such as internal lighting, motors, pumps, etc.

[0014] The agricultural photovoltaic module can further include a water collection tank, which can be configured to hold liquids such as water and / or liquid fertilizer therein. The water collection tank can have peripheral sidewalls such that the grow trays can be accommodated therebetween or nested therein. The water collection tank can be positioned below the grow trays, thereby allowing water to drain from the grow trays into the water tank. Additionally, excess rainwater or irrigation water can also be collected in the water tank. The water stored in the water tank can be used, for example, to water produce growing in the grow trays of the module and / or adjacent modules, or other produce, thereby conserving water use.

[0015] When filled with water, the water collection tank can affect the ambient environmental conditions of the module. Passive heating and cooling of the water collection tank maintains a balanced temperature in the immediate surroundings of the module.

[0016] According to one aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, grow trays can be configured to be stackably nested within like grow trays, water collection tanks can be configured to be stackably nested within like water collection tanks, or grow trays can be configured to be stackably nested within water collection tanks, or vice versa.

[0017] The stackable nesting arrangement of agricultural solar photovoltaic modules requires a small footprint, for example, when stored as a single module or when multiple modules are stored together, thereby reducing storage and transportation costs.

[0018] According to one aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, the photovoltaic cells may be removably attachable to the growth tray and / or water collection tank. When attached, the growth tray and water tank may include a base unit that may be removably attachable to the photovoltaic cells. Removing the photovoltaic cells or other elements from the module may allow those elements to be stackably nested within similar elements of similar modules, such as the growth tray or water collection tank, which may then be stacked together.

[0019] According to one aspect of the subject matter of the present disclosure, the agricultural photovoltaic module, as a whole or as part of a system comprising at least two agricultural photovoltaic modules, can float on water, such as a water reservoir, for example, a lake, a fish pond, a water reservoir that collects treated water or rainwater, or a similar water reservoir. This can be achieved due to the design of the module or part thereof, for example, by having a floating design, by having materials used during production, for example, buoyant buoyant materials, or by using a floating arrangement that can be connected to and / or part of the agricultural photovoltaic module as a whole or any part thereof. Alternatively, the agricultural photovoltaic module can be placed on a submerged support system.

[0020] According to certain embodiments, the growth tray can be configured to float on stored water in the collection tank. This can allow the growth tray to easily rotate relative to the collection tank, i.e., because the stored water reduces the coefficient of friction. In some embodiments, a system comprising at least two agricultural photovoltaic modules can be designed to float on water, for example, when the agricultural photovoltaic modules may not float adequately (or at all). For example, as a system, the agricultural photovoltaic modules can form a floating design, i.e., have structural features of a floating structure.

[0021] According to yet another aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, the photovoltaic cell may be connectable to an external power system. For example, the photovoltaic cell may be directly connected to the external power system, or the photovoltaic cell may be connectable to similar photovoltaic cells to form a series circuit, a parallel circuit, or any combination thereof that may be connected as a circuit to the external power system.

[0022] The grow bed can be any grow bed suitable for growing plants, such as soil, manure, limestone, perlite, peat, etc. The grow bed can be semi-liquid, wet or liquid, which can allow for hydroponic or aeroponics cultivation of plants or aquaponics cultivation of fish.

[0023] The growing tray can further include a side door to allow easy access to the plants or growing bed. The door can be opened to facilitate side entry, thereby allowing the user additional access points to the plants or growing bed. The growing tray can have two or more doors, which can be located along the same side wall or on different side walls, thereby allowing multiple access points to the plants and / or growing bed.

[0024] The agricultural solar photovoltaic module, as a whole or any portion thereof, may be manually movable, at least when empty. For example, the agricultural solar photovoltaic module may be moved by a user without additional machine-based assistance, such as a tractor and / or a forklift. The agricultural solar photovoltaic device may be secured to the ground, for example, by stakes, wedges, and / or ropes, to prevent unintentional movement, at least until filled with a growing bed or water.

[0025] The placement of the agricultural photovoltaic power generation apparatus can be based on, for example, the environmental conditions of each area. For example, when placing the agricultural photovoltaic module or portion thereof in a desired location, a user can take into account the amount of shading required for plants growing in the growth trays and / or the amount of direct sunlight desired for the photovoltaic cells. Thus, a user can choose to position the agricultural photovoltaic power generation apparatus so that the photovoltaic cells can shade the growth trays as much as possible, or vice versa. In some embodiments, the optimization program can recommend a desired angle at which the photovoltaic cells should be positioned, so that as much direct sunlight as possible reaches the photovoltaic cells while shading as many plants as necessary.

[0026] The modules or any part thereof may be movable by a forklift, a tractor, or any other agricultural or industrial machinery, even when filled with water and / or growing beds. In most cases, the total weight of the agricultural solar power plant can prevent unintentional movement after it has been filled with growing beds or water, or when it has begun to grow plants. Nevertheless, if the agricultural solar power plant needs to be relocated, for example, due to changes in weather or scenery (such as shade from a new tree or building), or if a farmer wants to change the location of the system due to a change in field layout or any other reason, agricultural or industrial machinery, such as a forklift, tractor, truck, or crane, may be available for such assistance.

[0027] The growing tray, the solar panel, or both may be rotatable relative to the water tank. For example, after the agricultural photovoltaic module is placed in place, either or both of the growing tray and the solar panel can be rotated to follow the movement of the sun during the day. For example, to increase the production of photovoltaic cells, which may be removably attachable to the growing tray, and / or to increase the exposure of plants to the sun, for example, during winter. This "follow the sun" function may be performed manually or by a mechanical device, such as a motor or piston, according to a predetermined program, such as a computer program / algorithm or other predetermined algorithm configured to optimize energy production and / or agricultural growth. The rotation and / or rotation of the growing tray relative to the water tank may be performed by a motor and / or manually. As detailed above, the growing tray may float on liquid (e.g., water, liquid fertilizer, etc.) stored in the water tank, and in doing so, friction between the growing tray and the water tank may be reduced, thereby allowing the rotation and / or rotation to be completed using less force than would otherwise be required.

[0028] According to one aspect of the subject matter of the present disclosure, there is provided a system including at least two agricultural photovoltaic modules as described above, wherein each photovoltaic cell of the modules may be connectable to an external power system. This should be kept in mind when forming a system of agricultural photovoltaic modules. In some embodiments, the photovoltaic cells are connected to form a series circuit, a parallel circuit, or any combination thereof that can be connected to the external power system, thereby increasing the voltage or current produced by the system, for example, according to the requirements of the external power system.

[0029] Any one or more of the following features, designs, and configurations may be applied to agricultural photovoltaic modules by themselves or as part of a system according to any aspect of the present disclosure, separately, or in various combinations thereof. All of the energy produced within the agricultural solar module is directed to the use of an external power system. The photovoltaic cells of the agricultural photovoltaic module can be positioned above the growing trays by poles, rods, stacks, or any other elements that can secure the photovoltaic cells above the growing trays. The agricultural photovoltaic module or any part thereof is made of plastic (polymer material) or any other engineered material. The agricultural photovoltaic module or any part thereof is made of plastic (polymer material) or any other material configured to float on water. · The growing tray is divided into multiple individual growing units. The grow tray and / or each individual grow unit has holes that allow excess water from the water tank to be available when submerged in the water tank to allow for hydroponic cultivation. The growing trays and / or water collection tanks are formed by using rotational molding techniques. The growing trays and / or collection tanks may be formed by using direct injection techniques, with or without the use of a vacuum. The photovoltaic cells in agricultural photovoltaic modules are used to produce DC or AC current. The water tank may have at least one water port, allowing it to receive water directly from the water line through one of the water ports and allow the water to flow to a similar water tank or to a next module through a second water port. The water tank is provided with a lifting lever along the outside of the water tank to allow for easy lifting of the agricultural photovoltaic module, the base unit and / or the water tank. The bottom of the grow tray is sloped towards the drain port to allow excess water to drain from the grow tray into the collection tank. The drain port includes a filter, such as a gravel filter, sand filter, carbon filter, membrane filter, or any other type of water filter, that ensures that at least a large portion of the grow bed does not enter the water tank. Agricultural photovoltaic modules can have any polygonal (e.g. hexagonal, symmetrical or asymmetrical) shape, or rounded or hybrid shapes. The modules have a general rectangular or hexagonal shape. Where a single agricultural photovoltaic module is roughly hexagonal in shape, a system comprising multiple modules may have the general shape of a birdhouse. The module includes one or more water ports for allowing water flow between the collection tank and at least one of a similar collection tank, a growing tray, a water supply line, and / or a large collection tank. The water flow is either (i) unidirectional, i.e., flow occurs only from or only into the collection tank, or (ii) bidirectional, such that water can flow from and into the collection tank. The module can be connected to similar photovoltaic cells to form a series circuit, a parallel circuit, or any combination thereof. The module can be connected to similar agricultural photovoltaic modules via fluid communication through one or more water ports, or via electrical connections in series or parallel, or via a combination of the two connection types. A module or a system comprising multiple connected modules can be connected via a first port to a first water source containing biological material, e.g., a water source for growing fish, and via a second port to a second water source for discharging treated water after it has passed through the growth trays and a portion of the biological material has been absorbed by the growing plants. In some embodiments, a module in the system or multiple modules in the system comprise one or more pumps for circulating water from a collection tank to the growth trays. The grow trays are configured to provide a growing bed for animals such as poultry and bees. Biological matter produced by the animals is discharged into the water below the grow tray, where fish can grow and use the discharged biological matter. The photovoltaic cells in the module are bifacial, meaning they are configured to receive electromagnetic radiation from two sides and convert it into electricity. The module further comprises one or more sensors for sensing at least one of temperature, humidity, water level in the collection tank, and the state of the photovoltaic cells, and processing circuitry for controlling at least one of water inflow / outflow of the system, water properties such as temperature, EC, pH, etc., weather conditions, and the state of the photovoltaic cells in response to measurements received by the one or more sensors. The photovoltaic cells are sloped to define a bottom of the photovoltaic cell that includes a drainage element for draining water flowing over the photovoltaic cells and directing it into either a collection tank or a growing tray. Water is used to wash the photovoltaic cells and is circulated back to the collection tank or growth tray. The module further includes a perforated cover mounted on the growth tray. The perforations in the cover are configured to fit over the plants in the growth tray and allow the plants to be exposed to the environment, e.g., sunlight. The cover is used to prevent water evaporation from a water collection tank below the growth tray. In some embodiments, the perforated cover includes a photovoltaic exterior surface that includes or is coated with a reflective material configured to reflect a selected range of electromagnetic radiation. The reflected radiation can be received from the perforations by the abutting plants or by the photovoltaic cells, if the photovoltaic cells are configured as bifacial photovoltaic cells. ·The majority of the solar photovoltaic energy produced above is directed to external power systems. A significant portion of the photovoltaic energy produced as described above is not intended to power the energy-related elements of the modules as described above. The external power system mentioned above is the external power grid. The external power system mentioned above is a battery or any other electrical energy storage device. The photovoltaic cells can be detachably attached to the above-mentioned module or any part thereof. The growing tray further comprises a watering tunnel for providing a constant supply of water to plants growing thereon, the watering tunnel defining a growing spot for the plants. The growth tray further comprises a water supply tunnel for providing a constant water supply to plants growing thereon, the perforations in the perforated cover being positioned along the water supply tunnel to define growth spots for the plants. The water collection tank may be configured to grow fish therein, i.e., contain the essential environmental conditions for growing fish. Agricultural solar power generation modules are portable. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0030] In order to better understand the subject matter disclosed herein, and to illustrate how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Figure 1A] 1 is a schematic diagram of an agricultural photovoltaic module having a generally rectangular shape according to an example of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 1B] 1B is a schematic exploded view of the agricultural photovoltaic module shown in FIG. 1A according to an example of the present disclosure. [Figure 1C] FIG. 1C is a schematic diagram of the construction of the bottom unit of the agricultural photovoltaic module shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B according to an example of the present disclosure. [Figure 2A] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a bottom unit of an agricultural photovoltaic module according to an example of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 2B]1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a hydroponic tray and a water collection tank for plant root growth of an agricultural photovoltaic module according to an example of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 1C is a schematic cross-sectional view of two stackable nesting bottom units of the agricultural photovoltaic module shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, according to an example of the present disclosure. [Figure 4A] 1 is a schematic diagram of an agricultural photovoltaic module having a generally hexagonal shape according to an example of the present disclosure. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B is a schematic exploded view of the agricultural photovoltaic module shown in FIG. 4A according to an example of the present disclosure. [Figure 5A] FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram of a water collection tank of the agricultural photovoltaic module shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B according to an example of the present disclosure. [Figure 5B] FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram of a growing tray divided into multiple individual growing units of the agricultural photovoltaic module shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B according to an example of the present disclosure. [Figure 6A] 1 is a schematic diagram of an agricultural photovoltaic module having a pivotable bottom unit according to an example of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 6B] FIG. 6B is a schematic exploded view of the agricultural photovoltaic module shown in FIG. 6A according to an example of the present disclosure. [Figure 6C] FIG. 6C is a top elevational view of the exploded schematic view of FIG. 6B according to an example of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 1C is a schematic diagram of the system of agricultural photovoltaic modules shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B deployed in a field according to an example of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram of the system of agricultural photovoltaic modules shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B disposed on the roof of a building according to an example of the present disclosure. [Figure 9A] 9A, 9B, and 9C are schematic diagrams of different views of a non-limiting example of an agricultural photovoltaic module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9B]9A, 9B, and 9C are schematic diagrams of different views of a non-limiting example of an agricultural photovoltaic module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9C] 9A, 9B, and 9C are schematic diagrams of different views of a non-limiting example of an agricultural photovoltaic module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] 1A-1C, these figures schematically illustrate an agricultural photovoltaic module, generally designated 100, having a generally rectangular shape according to one example of the present disclosure. In the illustrated example, agricultural photovoltaic module 100 is rectangular; this is by way of example only; however, agricultural photovoltaic modules can take on any polygonal shape (e.g., hexagonal, symmetrical or asymmetrical, as shown in FIGS. 4A-5B), or rounded or hybrid shapes (as shown with respect to FIGS. 6A-6B). Similarly, other elements of the agricultural photovoltaic module have corresponding rectangular shapes as a result of the present example using a rectangular agricultural photovoltaic module.

[0032] The agricultural photovoltaic module 100 includes a growth tray 120 having a bottom 122 and peripheral sidewalls 124 defining a basin configured to facilitate a growing bed (not shown) therein for plant growth, a photovoltaic cell 130 positionable above the growth tray 120, for example, by rods 132, configured to produce photovoltaic energy such that a majority of the produced photovoltaic energy is directed to an external power system (not shown), and a water collection tank 110 configured to store water positioned below the growth tray 120. The stored water in the water tank 110 can be used to water produce growing in the growth tray 120 or other agricultural products, thereby conserving water use. The water tank 110 has peripheral sidewalls 114 such that the growth tray 120 is supported by the sidewalls 114 when, for example, nested within the water tank 110. It should be noted that although agricultural photovoltaic module 100 includes a water collection tank 110, the two basic elements of the module are a growing tray 120 and photovoltaic cells 130. In some embodiments, all of the solar power energy produced is directed to an external power system.

[0033] A grow bed can be introduced into the grow tray 120 to allow for the agricultural growth of plants, such as vegetables, flowers, shrubs, etc. Accordingly, the grow bed can be any solid or semi-solid grow bed, such as soil, fertilizer, ash, perlite, peat, etc. The grow bed is supported by a bottom 122 and side walls 124 of the grow tray 120. The bottom of the grow tray 122 slopes toward a drain port 126 to allow excess water to drain from the grow tray 122 into the water collection tank 110. Excess water can result from rainfall, irrigation, and / or use of a grow bed that does not "retain" water. The drain port 126 includes a filter 127, such as a gravel filter, sand filter, carbon filter, membrane filter, or any other type of water filter, that ensures that at least a majority of the grow bed does not enter the water tank 110.

[0034] The water tank 110 can receive excess water from the grow tray 120 as detailed above or by a direct water line that can be connected to the water port 116. The water port 116 is configured to receive water into the water tank 110, for example, via connection to a hose, although additional water ports 116 (not shown) can be configured to allow the flow of water to a similar water tank or large collection tank when forming a system of agricultural photovoltaic modules 100, such as system 700 shown in FIG. 7. Water stored in the water tank 110 can be used, for example, through the irrigation port 128, for irrigating plants growing in the grow tray 120. The stored water in the water tank 110 can be “moved” to the irrigation port 128 by using capillary flow or by using a pump. Note that the water stored in the water tank 110 can also be used, for example, for irrigating similar grow trays of other agricultural photovoltaic modules, if they are part of a system. Air vents 129 are configured in the top of water tank 110, allowing air to enter and exit water tank 110. For example, when water leaves water tank 110, e.g., through irrigation port 128, to irrigate plants in growth tray 120, air must enter the water tank, e.g., through air vent 129. On the other hand, when filling the water tank through water port 116, air must exit water tank 110, e.g., through air vent 129.

[0035] The photovoltaic cells 130 can be removably attached to the bottom unit 140 or any portion thereof, such as the growth tray 120 and / or the water collection tank 110, as best shown with reference to FIGS. 4B and 5B. Removing the photovoltaic cells 130 from the unit 140 allows for stackable nesting elements of the module, such as a similar growth tray and / or a similar water collection tank, as detailed with reference to FIG. 3. The photovoltaic cells 130 can be positioned above the growth tray 120 at the top of the module, allowing for direct line of sight with sunlight or artificial lighting. Additionally, by being positioned above the growth tray 120, the photovoltaic cells 130 shade the plants growing therein, thereby reducing their exposure to direct sunlight. Reducing exposure to direct sunlight is primarily desired during the midday hours, i.e., the hottest times of the day. For example, shading plants from direct sunlight can help reduce water vapor by 12-34%, thereby improving water use. Additionally, shading plants can be effective during heavy rain, hail, or severe weather that may be harmful to delicate plants, such as flowers or herbs. As shown, the photovoltaic cells 130 are sloped toward the growth tray 120. This slope helps direct rain or irrigation water that falls on the photovoltaic cells 130, for example, when using a sprinkler, to reach the plants growing in the growth tray 120, thereby ensuring that the plants receive the maximum amount of water available for the land space occupied by the agricultural photovoltaic modules. This slope can also help direct rain or irrigation water that falls on the photovoltaic cells 130 to reach the water tank 110, for example, for storage therein.

[0036] Furthermore, because plants growing within the grow trays 120 can help maintain a more moderate temperature than the surrounding area, for example, due to water vapor from the plants, the efficiency of photovoltaic cells 130 placed directly above the plants can increase, for example, by 4-6%, as a result of the more moderate temperature. Thus, placing photovoltaic cells 130 above the grow trays 120 can increase both agricultural efficiency and energy production efficiency.

[0037] The placement of agricultural photovoltaic modules 100, or at least the growing trays 120 and / or photovoltaic cells 130, can be according to environmental conditions. For example, when placing agricultural photovoltaic modules 100 in a desired location, a user may take into account the amount of shading required for plants growing in growing trays 120 and / or the amount of direct sunlight desired for photovoltaic cells 130. In some embodiments, an optimization program can recommend the desired angle at which direct sunlight reaches photovoltaic cells 130 in relation to the amount of shading required for plants according to the global placement of agricultural photovoltaic modules 100.

[0038] It should be noted that the photovoltaic cells 130 are configured to produce more photovoltaic energy than is required by the agricultural photovoltaic module 100, such as a motor for rotating or pivoting the grow tray 120 and / or the photovoltaic cells 130 when using a pump to advance water from the collection tank 110 to the grow tray 120 or when using artificial internal lighting to increase plant illumination. Thus, at least a majority of the produced photovoltaic energy is directed to an external power system that may be external to the elements comprising the agricultural photovoltaic module, such as an external power grid, a battery, an end user, any combination thereof, or any other electrical energy transport, consumption, or storage device(s). The photovoltaic cells 130 may be directly connectable to the external power system, or the photovoltaic cells 130 may be connectable to similar photovoltaic cells to form a series circuit, a parallel circuit, or any combination thereof that may be connected as a circuit to the external power system.

[0039] According to another aspect of the subject matter of the present disclosure, the grow tray 120, the solar panel 130, or both may be rotatable relative to the water tank 110. For example, after placing the agricultural photovoltaic module 100 in place, the grow tray 120 may be pivoted to follow the movement of the sun during the day, e.g., at least along the horizontal reference plane of the agricultural photovoltaic module 100. For example, to increase production of the photovoltaic cells 130, which may be rotated along with the grow tray 120, and / or to increase plant exposure to the sun. This "follow the sun" function may be performed manually and / or by a motor, e.g., according to an optimization program, such as a computer program or other predetermined algorithm configured to optimize energy production and / or agricultural growth. In some embodiments, the grow tray 120 may be configured to float on water stored in the water tank 110, and in doing so, friction between the grow tray 120 and the water tank 110 may be reduced, thereby allowing rotation and / or pivoting to be completed using less force than would otherwise be required.

[0040] Although not shown, the growing tray 120 can include a side door to allow easy access to the plants or growing beds. The door may be opened to facilitate side entry, thereby allowing a user additional access points to the plants or growing beds, for example, to replace the growing beds. In some embodiments, the growing tray 120 can have two or more side doors, e.g., two or more doors. When two or more side doors are included, the doors may be located along the same side wall 124, e.g., at opposite ends of the same side wall, or on different side walls 124a, 124b, 124c, or 124d, thereby allowing multiple access points to the plants and / or growing beds.

[0041] According to one aspect of the subject matter of the present disclosure, the agricultural solar photovoltaic module 100, or any portion thereof, is manually movable, at least when empty. For example, the agricultural solar photovoltaic module 100 can be moved by a user without additional assistance, such as a forklift. Thus, a user can place the agricultural solar photovoltaic module 100 at its designated location, which may be in an open field or on a roof. Thus, when empty or when placed in a windy location, it may be advisable to secure the agricultural solar photovoltaic device to the ground, for example, with stakes, wedges, and / or ropes, to prevent the agricultural solar photovoltaic device from unintentionally moving, at least until the agricultural solar photovoltaic device can be filled with a growing bed or water, or shielded from the wind. In other embodiments, for example, if the agricultural solar photovoltaic module 100 as a whole may exceed 100 kg, the module may not be manually movable.

[0042] According to one aspect of the subject matter of the present disclosure, the agricultural photovoltaic module 100, or any portion thereof, may be movable, for example, by a forklift, a tractor, or any other agricultural or industrial machinery, even when filled with water and / or a growing bed. For example, the water tank 110 includes a groove 119 disposed at its bottom (best shown as groove 219 in FIGS. 2A and 2B ). The groove 119 allows the forks of a forklift to easily lift, move, and / or displace / relocate the agricultural photovoltaic module 100, or a portion thereof (e.g., the base unit 140 or the water tank 110). In most cases, the total weight of the agricultural photovoltaic module 100 may prevent unintentional movement after it has been filled with a growing bed, water, or has begun growing plants. Nevertheless, if the agricultural photovoltaic module needs to be relocated, for example, due to changes in weather or the landscape (such as the shade of a new tree or building), agricultural or industrial machinery, such as a forklift, a tractor, a truck, or a crane, may be available for such assistance.

[0043] 1C illustrates the construction of the bottom unit 140 by removably attaching the growth tray 120 to the water tank 110. As shown, the growth tray 120 is configured to be nested within the water collection tank 110 such that the sidewall 114 supports at least a portion of the sidewall 124 and the lever 118 supports at least a portion of the bottom surface 122; therefore, no additional fastening members are required. However, if the growth tray 120 is not nested within the water tank 110, fastening members such as snap fits, locking pins and / or clips and / or other fastening members that can enable their rapid release and activation can be used to prevent the growth tray 120 from moving relative to the water tank 110 after attachment. In this example, if the growth tray 120 is formed separately from the water collection tank 110, the manufacture of each unit, i.e., the growth tray 120 and / or the water tank 110, can be performed using a variety of manufacturing techniques and combinations thereof, such as, for example, injection molding, vacuum forming, thermoforming, blow molding, or any combination thereof.

[0044] It should be noted that if each unit, i.e., grow tray 120 and / or water tank 110, is manufactured separately, grow tray 120 can be configured to be stackably nested with similar grow trays, such as grow tray 320 shown in Figure 3. Accordingly, water collection tank 110 can be configured to be stackably nested with similar water collection tanks, such as water tank 310 shown in Figure 3. These stackably nesting characteristics can reduce the total footprint of the unassembled modules, which in turn can reduce costs, for example, during storage and / or transportation.

[0045] 2A shows a cross section of a bottom unit 240a including a grow tray 220a and a collection tank 210a, where unit 240a, or any portion thereof, is similar to unit 140, or any portion thereof. However, in this embodiment, grow tray 220a and collection tank 210a are formed together into bottom unit 240a, for example, by using rotational molding techniques or any other manufacturing techniques. As detailed above, manufacturing bottom unit 240a instead of separately manufacturing collection tank 110 and grow tray 120 may be more cost-effective and may also facilitate easier replacement and / or movement of the unit as a whole. When formed together, i.e., as bottom unit 240a, collection tank 210a is configured to be stackably nested into a similar grow tray 320 configured to receive collection tank 210a therein, as shown in FIG. 3. This also applies to the growth tray 120 or water tank 110, which are also configured to be stackably nested within a similar growth tray 320 or similar water tank 310.

[0046] FIG. 2B shows a cross-sectional view of a bottom unit 240b including a growing tray 220b and a water collection tank 210b, where unit 240b or any portion thereof is similar to unit 140 or any portion thereof, at least in its general function. However, in this embodiment, growing tray 220b is divided into a plurality of individual growing units 221, each of which is submerged in a water tank 210b and has at least one hole that allows water to enter the individual growing unit 221, thereby "flooding" the unit. The individual growing units 221 are typically intended for hydroponic cultivation. In this embodiment, the growing bed can be semi-liquid, wet, or liquid to enable hydroponic cultivation of plants. At least one drain port 226b is located in each individual growing unit 221b. In most cases, two or more drain ports 226b are provided for each individual growth unit 221b, allowing for continuous water circulation to and from the water collection tank 210b. While not shown, in some embodiments, the bottom unit as a whole can enable aquaponics fish farming, for example, when the growth trays are fully submerged in the water tank or by canceling the growth trays and optionally expanding the overall size of the water tank. In this example, when forming a system with at least two agricultural photovoltaic modules, i.e., when at least one growth tray is fully submerged in the water tank or canceled to enable aquaponics fish farming, the aquaponics bottom unit can be connected to other bottom units intended for use with solid, semi-solid, semi-liquid, or liquid growth beds to allow these bottom units to use the naturally fertile water produced by the fish.

[0047] 3 shows unit 140 stackably nested on top of a similar unit 340 comprising a grow tray 120 and a water tank 110. Note that other bottom units of other modules may also be stackable and / or nestable with bottom unit 340 or other similar bottom units. When stacking several bottom units 140 together, the water collection tank 110 is nested within a similar grow tray 320, such that at least a portion of the bottom 112 or side wall 114 of the water collection tank 110 is supported by a similar bottom 322 or similar side wall 324 of the similar grow tray 320. The stackably nesting feature can reduce the total footprint of an unconstructed module, which in turn can reduce costs, for example, during storage and / or transportation.

[0048] 4A-5B illustrate an agricultural photovoltaic module, generally designated 400, having a generally hexagonal shape according to one example of the present disclosure. Although agricultural photovoltaic module 400 has a generally hexagonal shape, module 400 and its components are similar in function to agricultural photovoltaic module 100 and its components disclosed above. For example, water tank 410, along with sidewall 414, bottom 412, water port 416, etc., are equivalent in function to water tank 110 and the elements that make up the water tank, such as sidewall 114, bottom 112, water port 116, etc. Additionally, photovoltaic cells 430 and rods 432 are equivalent to photovoltaic cells 130 and rods 132, and grow tray 420 is equivalent in its general function of supporting a grow bed and plants growing therein in grow tray 120. The hexagonal shape allows the agricultural photovoltaic module 400, together with similar modules, to form a hive-like system as shown in FIG. 8, which has better spacing efficiency than other shapes. Connecting elements 418 are disposed at the bottom of most of the side walls 414. The connecting elements 418 are configured to connect the agricultural photovoltaic module 400 to similar modules, thereby preventing the connecting elements from moving relative to one another. In this embodiment, each connecting element 418 has a hollow ridge configured to be inserted into a linking hollow ridge of a similar module, or vice versa.

[0049] In this example, FIG. 5B shows the growing tray 420 divided into multiple individual growing units 421, although the growing units 421 (not shown) have at least two water holes that allow for "water connections" between the growing units 421, allowing water to flow freely from one unit 421 to another. In some embodiments, the units 421 are formed without water holes, and each unit 421 functions as a small growing tray in its own right. The individual growing units 421 are typically intended for growing delicate plants, such as flowers, unlike the growing unit 221 shown in FIG. 2B, which is primarily designed to facilitate hydroponic cultivation. Note that while the growing units 221 and 421 are intended for different growing techniques, they are similar in at least their functions.

[0050] An air vent 429 is configured in the top of the water tank 410 to allow air to enter and exit the water tank 410 as detailed above with respect to the air vent 129 .

[0051] 5B clearly shows the sockets 428 configured to removably attach the rods 432 to the bottom unit 440. The rods 432 can be easily inserted into the sockets 428 and / or easily removed, for example, by removing them from the sockets 428, i.e., the photovoltaic cells 430, from the bottom unit 440. It should be noted that other forms of removably attaching the photovoltaic cells 430 to the bottom unit 440, for example via the rods 432, can be performed, for example, threaded mounting rods, metal profiles, etc.

[0052] 6A-6C, these figures illustrate that the agricultural photovoltaic module, generally designated 600, can float on water, such as a water reservoir, e.g., a lake, a fish pond, a water reservoir collecting treated water or rainwater, or a similar water reservoir. This may be achieved, for example, due to the fitting design of the module 600 or any part thereof with a floating design, materials used during production, such as floatable materials, and / or by using a floating arrangement that can be connected to the agricultural photovoltaic module 600 as a whole or to any part thereof. In this example, the module 600 further comprises a floating arrangement 650 that supports the bottom unit 640 and is configured to float on water, which allows the agricultural photovoltaic module 600 to be placed in a water reservoir, thereby increasing their "usable area." For example, the floating arrangement 650 allows for agricultural cultivation and energy production prior to use of the module 600, e.g., by using growing trays 620 and photovoltaic cells 630 on areas not available for agricultural use. The floating structure 650 is generally hollow and sealed, thereby using air "trapped" inside to increase its floating capacity. Additionally, the floating structure 650 is made of a water-floating material, such as plastic, wood, or any other floating material. The floating structure 650 is generally designed to frame the bottom unit 640 with side walls 654, which form a confined basin 655 that prevents the bottom unit 640 from floating away. The bottom surface 652 is designed to support the bottom unit 640 so that it does not sink in water, for example, by providing at least one rest point 651 configured to support the bottom surface 612 of the water tank. In this example, the rest point 651 is slightly elevated relative to the rest of the bottom surface 652. Additionally, the bottom surface 652 has an opening 653 that allows water to enter a basin 655 , thereby surrounding the bottom unit 640 from at least its side walls 614 and bottom surface 612 .

[0053] In this embodiment, bottom unit 640 is configured to pivot relative to floating arrangement 650, e.g., by hand or by a motor, e.g., along a horizontal reference plane of module 600. Pivoting bottom unit 640 can help increase the effective illumination reaching growing trays 620 and / or photovoltaic cells 630, which in turn can increase the power generated thereby. For example, photovoltaic cells can be removably attached to bottom unit 640, e.g., by rods 632, so that pivoting bottom unit 640 in turn pivots photovoltaic cells 630, which allows growing trays 620 and photovoltaic cells 630 to "follow the sun." This "sun following" ability can be done manually or by a motor, e.g., according to a predetermined optimization program, such as a computer program / algorithm or other predetermined algorithm configured to optimize energy production and / or agricultural growth.

[0054] As water enters the troughs 655, they help reduce friction between the bottom unit 640 and the floating arrangement 650, which also reduces the power required to pivot the bottom unit 640 relative to the floating arrangement 650. By reducing the power required for pivoting, for example by a motor, less power is required to operate the agricultural solar power module 600, and more of the power produced can be made available for external use, such as to an external power grid, a battery, an end user, any combination thereof, or any other electrical energy transport, consumption, or storage device.

[0055] Because bottom unit 640 nests within basin 655 and they are two separate elements, bottom unit 640 can also pivot relative to a similar module or a similar bottom unit attached to module 600, e.g., via floating arrangement 650, when forming a floating system with multiple modules 600. Note that agricultural solar power module 600 can also be used on a "hard" surface, such as the ground or a rooftop. Thereby, when part of a system, each photovoltaic cell 630 and growing tray 620 can be individually pivoted relative to the rest of the bottom unit in the system. In other embodiments, bottom unit 640 or water tank 610 need not pivot relative to floating arrangement 650, e.g., when water tank 610 and floating arrangement 650 are formed as a single unit.

[0056] In this example, agricultural photovoltaic module 600 includes pivoting elements 634 that allow photovoltaic cells 630 to pivot at an angle relative to base unit 640, i.e., along the vertical plane of agricultural photovoltaic module 600. Pivoting elements 634 allow for further adjustment of photovoltaic cells 630, for example, to better "follow the sun" and / or to increase and / or decrease the shelter provided by photovoltaic cells 630 to plants growing in grow trays 620, as detailed above.

[0057] In some embodiments, for example, when water tank 610 is formed with floating configuration 650, bottom unit 640 may not pivot relative to floating configuration 650. If growth tray 620, and accordingly photovoltaic cells 630, cannot pivot relative to floating configuration 650, there may not be any additional adjustment of photovoltaic cells 630, such as the "follow the sun" feature detailed above.

[0058] In this embodiment, growth tray 620 is shown as having individual growth units similar to growth units 421 and / or 221, but may be similar to growth tray 120, and all of the embodiments detailed above include air vents 629 located at the top of water tank 610, as detailed with respect to air vents 129, thereby allowing air to enter and exit water tank 610.

[0059] Although not shown, in some embodiments, for example, when used for hydroponics, agricultural photovoltaic module 600 may not include a water tank at all. Accordingly, bottom surface 652 can be designed to support growth tray 620 so that growth tray 620 is not submerged in water, for example, by providing at least one rest point 651 configured to support the bottom surface of the growth tray. In this embodiment, plants growing in growth tray 620 can receive water directly from the water reservoir, for example, by submerging their roots in the water reservoir or at least contacting the water in the water reservoir.

[0060] 7 and 8 illustrate systems 700 and 800, respectively, each comprising a plurality of agricultural photovoltaic modules as described hereinabove. In this example, system 700 is comprised solely of a plurality of agricultural photovoltaic modules 100, and system 800 is comprised solely of a plurality of agricultural photovoltaic modules 400, but it should be noted that a system including at least two agricultural photovoltaic modules may be comprised of any combination of agricultural photovoltaic modules 100, 400, or similar agricultural photovoltaic modules. Each system allows for each photovoltaic cell 130, 430, etc. of module 100, 400, etc. to be connectable by itself and / or as part of system 700, 800, etc., and / or to an external power system, such that at least a majority of the energy produced by the solar power units in the system is directed to external use with respect to the elements comprising the system. It should be noted that when forming a system such as agricultural solar power modules 100, 400, the solar cells are preferably connected to form a series circuit, a parallel circuit, or any combination thereof that can be connected to an external power system, thereby increasing the voltage and / or current produced by system 700, 800, etc., e.g., according to the requirements of the external power system.

[0061] 7 shows a plantation integrating a system 700 comprising multiple agricultural photovoltaic modules 100 distributed among the trees, for example by a tractor. By integrating the system 700 into the plantation, the efficient use of available land space is increased, for example, agriculturally (using growing trays 120 for growing plants) and energetically.

[0062] In some embodiments, the agricultural photovoltaic modules 100 of the system 700 may not include the growing trays 120 and may include only the photovoltaic cells 130 and the water tank 110. For example, to collect rainwater, the rainwater is collected in the water tank 110, and the water tank is used to water the trees in the plantation. Note that the agricultural photovoltaic modules of the system 700 can be connected to each other and / or to an external water collection tank (not shown), for example, via the water port 116. If the system 700 is connected to an external water tank, the water stored in each agricultural photovoltaic module can be collected in the external water tank, for example, via a pump. Additionally, if the system 700 is connected to an external water tank, the water stored in the external water tank can be distributed to each agricultural photovoltaic module in the system 700 as needed.

[0063] 8 illustrates locating the system 800 on the roof of a building, for example, by placing multiple agricultural photovoltaic modules 400 adjacent to one another. Because the agricultural photovoltaic modules 400 have a generally hexagonal shape, the system 800 has a general birdhouse shape. Locating the system 800 on a roof may have several advantages in addition to utilizing the space for energy production and / or plant growth. For example, use of the system 800 may further provide thermal and acoustic insulation for the building. Furthermore, because the growing trays 420 and water tanks 410 also collect rainwater during rainfall events, use of the system 800 in urban areas may reduce the water load on urban drainage systems.

[0064] Thereby, using the systems 700, 800 or similar systems makes it possible to utilize any unused space, whether it is outdoors, in a plantation, or on a roof, and may have additional benefits for the area in which they are placed. The agricultural photovoltaic modules of the systems 700, 800 may be placed in a variety of locations, such as landfills, contaminated fields, urban areas, roadsides, young plantations, and similar areas that are not used for agricultural purposes for temporary and / or permanent reasons.

[0065] It should be noted that the systems may be deployed for agricultural purposes. It should be noted that any one of the specific examples described above with respect to agricultural photovoltaic modules (100, 400, and / or 600), portions thereof, and / or systems 700 and 800 can be implemented mutatis mutandis in any other module, portion thereof, or system, which may include at least two agricultural photovoltaic modules, even if not specifically addressed and / or disclosed above. For example, systems such as systems 700 and / or 800 may include different agricultural photovoltaic modules. Some modules may include batteries for storing collected energy, while other modules may not comprise photovoltaic cells. Some modules in the system may be used for aquaponics farming, and other modules may be used for agricultural growing by using grow beds and / or hydroponics.

[0066] 9A-9C, which are schematic diagrams of different views of a non-limiting example of an agricultural photovoltaic module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. These figures illustrate an agricultural photovoltaic module 900 including a water collection tank 910 for storing and collecting water. A growth tray 920 is mounted above the water collection tank 910, and the growth tray is formed with a water supply tunnel 960 into which plants are placed to receive a constant water supply in a hydroponic cultivation method. Each water supply tunnel 960 is designed to provide water for multiple plants. The water supply tunnel 960 receives water from the water collection tank 910, for example, via a circulation pump. A perforated cover 962 fits over the growth tray 920 with perforations 964 positioned along the water supply tunnel 962 to allow plants to grow therethrough, with the remainder of the water supply tunnel portion covered to avoid unwanted evaporation of water. The perforated cover 962 can be coated with a reflective material to reflect light received by plants growing in the growth tray 920 or by the photovoltaic cells 930 mounted on the growth tray 920. The photovoltaic cells 930 are attached to the upper ends of supports 932. The bottom ends of the supports 932 are directly or indirectly connected to the main body of the agricultural photovoltaic module 900 that constitutes the growth tray 920 and / or the water collection tank 910. The photovoltaic cells 930 are inclined at an angle α with respect to a growth tray plane GTP defined by the growth tray, defining a photovoltaic plane PP that is parallel to the ground. The angle α can be between 2° and 30°, between 2° and 10°, or approximately 5°. Thus, water falling on the photovoltaic cells 930 flows toward its bottom and is collected there by a drainage element 966, which circulates the water to either the growth tray or the water collection tank 910.

[0067] The term "about" should be interpreted as a ±20% deviation from the nominal value. For example, if a value is about 10, it should be understood to be in the range of 8-12.

[0068] The photovoltaic cells 930 may be bifacial, i.e., photovoltaic energy production occurs from two sides of the photovoltaic unit, and thus light reflection from the reflective material of the perforated cover 962 can be received by the bottom side of the photovoltaic cells to produce photovoltaic energy.

Claims

1. An agricultural solar power generation module, a growing tray having a bottom and peripheral sidewalls configured to facilitate the growing bed allowing the growth of one of a plant or an animal; a photovoltaic cell positionable on the growth tray configured to produce photovoltaic energy; a water collection tank configured to store water therein, the water collection tank being positioned below the growth tray and allowing water to drain from the tray into the tank; one or more water ports for allowing the flow of water between the water collection tank and at least one of similar water collection tanks, the water flow being either (i) unidirectional or (ii) bidirectional so that water can flow from the water collection tank and into the water collection tank; connecting elements formed on sidewalls of the agricultural photovoltaic modules, the connecting elements configured to connect the agricultural photovoltaic modules to similar agricultural photovoltaic modules to prevent them from moving relative to each other; the photovoltaic cell is removably attachable to either (i) the growth tray, (ii) the water collection tank, or (iii) the growth tray and the water collection tank; Agricultural solar power generation modules.

2. 10. The agricultural photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein the growth trays are configured to be stackable and nestable with similar growth trays, or the water collection tanks are configured to be stackable and nestable with similar water collection tanks, or the growth trays are configured to be stackable and nestable with the water collection tanks, or vice versa.

3. 3. The agricultural photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein the growth tray is rotatable relative to the water collection tank.

4. The agricultural photovoltaic module of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the water collection tank has a peripheral side wall, and the growth tray is housed within the side wall of the water collection tank.

5. 5. The agricultural photovoltaic module of any one of claims 1 to 4, connectable to similar agricultural photovoltaic modules via a series or parallel electrical connection.

6. An agricultural solar power generation module as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, which is connectable to a first water source containing biological material via a first port of the one or more water ports, and which is connectable to a second water source via a second port of the one or more water ports for discharging treated water after passing through the growth tray.

7. 7. The agricultural photovoltaic module of claim 6, further comprising one or more pumps for circulating water from the water collection tank to the growth trays.

8. 8. The agricultural photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein the photovoltaic cells are sloped to define a bottom of the photovoltaic cells, the bottom of the photovoltaic cells comprising drainage elements for draining water flowing over the photovoltaic cells and directing it into either the collection tank or the growth tray.

9. 9. The agricultural photovoltaic module according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the photovoltaic cells are connectable to similar photovoltaic cells to form a series of a series circuit, a parallel circuit, or any combination thereof.

10. 10. The agricultural photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein the growing bed is soil, fertilizer, ash, perlite, peat, or any other solid or semi-solid growing bed for enabling plant growth.

11. The agricultural photovoltaic module of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the growing tray further comprises a side door for allowing easy access to plants or the growing bed.

12. 12. Agricultural photovoltaic module according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the module, by itself or as part of a system, is designed to float on water.

13. The agricultural photovoltaic module of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the growing tray comprises a growing bed for growing animals.

14. The agricultural photovoltaic module according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the photovoltaic cells of the module are bifacial photovoltaic cells.

15. 15. The agricultural photovoltaic module of claim 1, further comprising a processing circuit and one or more sensors for sensing at least one of temperature, humidity, water level in the water collection tank, and a state of the photovoltaic cells, wherein the processing circuit is configured to control at least one of water inflow / outflow, weather conditions, and a state of the photovoltaic cells of the agricultural photovoltaic module in response to measurements received by the one or more sensors.

16. 16. The agricultural photovoltaic module of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the growth tray further comprises a watering tunnel for providing a constant water supply to plants growing thereon.

17. 17. The agricultural photovoltaic module of claim 1, further comprising a perforated cover mounted on the growth tray, the perforations in the cover configured to fit over plants in the growth tray and allow the plants to be exposed to the environment.

18. 20. The agricultural photovoltaic module of claim 17, wherein the perforated cover comprises a photovoltaic exterior surface that includes or is coated with a reflective material configured to reflect a selected range of electromagnetic radiation.

19. 19. The agricultural photovoltaic module of claim 17 or 18, wherein the growth tray further comprises a water supply tunnel for providing a constant water supply to plants growing thereon, and the perforations in the perforated cover are arranged along the water supply tunnel to define growth spots for plants.

20. The agricultural photovoltaic module of any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein a majority of the produced photovoltaic energy is directed to an external power system.

21. 21. The agricultural photovoltaic module of claim 20, wherein the photovoltaic cells are connectable to the external power system.

22. A system comprising at least two agricultural photovoltaic modules according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the photovoltaic cells of each of said modules are connectable to an external power system.

23. 23. The system of claim 22, wherein the photovoltaic cells of the module are connectable to one another to form a series circuit, a parallel circuit, or any combination thereof, the circuit being connectable to the external power system.

24. 24. The system of claim 23, wherein each module is generally hexagonal in shape such that the system has the general shape of a hive.

Images