Embedded right into a mountainside in Adjuntas, Puerto Rico, a brand new agrivoltaics system may set requirements for vitality independence in hurricane-prone areas.
Miguel Berdiel, proprietor of espresso farm Hacienda Berdiel Torres, was coping with a number of obstructions on what ought to have been a affluent farm. Regardless of optimum coffee-growing situations and a hydroponic greenhouse, excessive vitality prices and different impacts from Hurricane Maria have been stifling development. The greenhouse’s hydroponics system was finally shuttered, and plans to supply jobs and regionally grown meals to the neighborhood have been halted.
Credit score: Twende Photo voltaic
Hacienda Berdiel’s challenges and potential as an agrivoltaics analysis and local weather resilience undertaking aligned with the NREL’s InSPIRE initiative. The group tapped Oregon-based nonprofit Twende Solar to plan and coordinate a photo voltaic set up.
Twende Photo voltaic approached MT Solar to design top-of-pole mounts that may very well be safely and effectively put in at a 3,000-ft elevation and accommodate all farming operations. The system additionally wanted to withstand hurricane-level forces and supply sufficient capability to safe Hacienda Berdiel’s vitality assets.
“With such excessive wind masses, we needed to sort out some challenges to get a design that enables for prime floor clearance above espresso timber. It’s thrilling to assist our clients obtain their wants even in excessive situations,” mentioned Jamie Blum, MT Photo voltaic design and gross sales engineer.
Credit score: Twende Photo voltaic
The 9.8-kW system was put in in July of 2025. MT Photo voltaic sponsored six photo voltaic mounts, every holding 4 410-W modules 15 ft above the bottom. Aireko Power Group and GRID Alternate options Puerto Rico accomplished the inspiration and system assemblies. Texas-based vitality storage producer EG4 Electronics donated the inverter and batteries for a 40-kWh vitality financial institution.
With the system working, Hacienda Berdiel now plans to reopen its greenhouse. Regardless of vitality prices and an unpredictable local weather, vitality resilience and independence are inside its attain.
This technique may outline requirements for floor photo voltaic in hurricane-affected areas. To assist construct a blueprint for comparable installations, researchers will monitor system output and crop productiveness over the subsequent two years.
