Agrophotovoltaic system in Alagoas – Design contribution and performance analysis of support structures for photovoltaic solar panels

Resumo

Agrophotovoltaic (APV) systems are widely used nowadays. They are shown as a sustainable strategy
transition to renewable energies and are a "dual-farming" technique combining photovoltaic and crop cultivation.
The sugarcane energy sector is the main economic activity in Alagoas. The electrical transmission structure and
the available cultivated area offer optimal symbiotic conditions for implementing these systems. This work
proposes a structure to support the photovoltaic solar panels and their loads as well as the flexibility to adjust the
angle of the panels and modify the distance between the individual structures. The estimates of the structural loads
were carried out through the combinations of the predicted actions, such as the weight of photovoltaic solar panels
and structural elements and the action of the wind, considering the most unfavorable situation in the structure
sizing. Structural analysis and design were carried out considering the Service Limit State (SLS) and the Ultimate
Limit State (ULS) through the structural analysis based on the finite element method, SAP2000, considering the
Brazilian standards. All results are within limits established in the Brazilian National Standards Organization,
Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas (ABNT) in Portuguese.