Tralite reports this morning (Sunday) that it won a call from the Office of the Chief Scientist in the Ministry of Energy as part of a joint judging committee of the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Agriculture to establish dual-use renewable energy projects in agricultural areas (agro-voltaic). 2.52 megawatts.
As part of the research, the Trelite Group will establish and operate 4 facilities for the production of renewable energy. As part of the projects, it will examine the dual-use in the agricultural area for the purposes of growing various agricultural crops and for the use of photovoltaic solar energy production. The studies will be conducted in relation to a number of crops, will be deployed in different climatic geographical areas around the country and will be accompanied by renowned researchers in the world of agriculture.
As part of the research, a combination of unique technologies will be used to increase crop output and create an optimal microclimate for them, as well as a combination of accurate measurement and control measures. The studies will examine the optimal coverage area of solar panels in terms of the effect of the panel on the crop components and the quality of the fruit, and the interaction (plant-panel) such as cooling the ambient temperature of the panels and thus increasing their electricity production output. The effect of the solar facility on the amount of water available to the crop will also be examined, in order to find ways to utilize the solar facility in favor of improving the amounts of water available to the plant, even compared to a situation where there is no solar facility above it.
Gal Shofroni, VP of Business Development and Regulation at Tralite, stated: “Maintaining the balance between the agricultural needs of the State of Israel on the one hand and meeting the renewable energy goals of the state on the other, has brought us to the forefront of solar technology and positioned Israel as a world leader. With the knowledge that Straight will acquire in Israel, among other things through this series of studies, we intend to develop unique activities abroad.
Last month, Tralight won a call from the Ministry of Energy and the Office of the Chief Scientist to establish the first micro-grid project of its kind in Kiryat Bialik, in which the company will install solar roofing on a parking lot, combining charging stations for electric vehicles and storage facilities. The project, which receives NIS 1.3 million in support, will initially include 500 kilowatts of solar, 10 charging stations for electric vehicles and storage at a capacity of 2.3 megawatts per hour. In the next stage, as the demand for charging stations increases, the project is expected to expand.
Rani Lifshitz, CEO of Traleit: “We are proud to take part in this important study, as we identify the growing distress in the agricultural industry in the country and believe that these projects will create security and certainty when electricity production balances crop yields and yields fruit for all parties. We believe that the results of the studies will help expand Traleit’s activity in the field of dual-use, in accordance with the strategy we have outlined. “Along with the company’s flagship projects, which include two of the largest solar installations in the country with a combined capacity of about 600 megawatts, Traalite considers dual-use projects of great importance, given the limited areas in the country and the need to use existing resources as multi-purpose.”