Uzbekistan has found a way to turn the scorching sun from a threat to crops into a powerful energy resource. The agrovoltaics technology, which allows harvesting a 'double crop' — energy and agricultural products from the same plot — is already showing first results in the Fergana region.

Solar panels installed above crops provide necessary partial shade, protecting plants from heat and significantly slowing moisture evaporation from the soil. In turn, natural evaporation from leaves cools the photovoltaic cells, increasing their efficiency. According to experts, the total potential of this direction in the republic reaches an impressive 10 gigawatts.

During a trip to the Fergana region, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed the practical implementation of this method at an innovative agricultural complex in the Kuva district. On an area of 110 hectares, a full-fledged ecosystem combining intensive horticulture, livestock, and fish farming has been deployed. Here, 10,000 solar panels are installed, with their energy used for pond aeration, and mineralized water from the ponds is used to irrigate export vineyards of the 'Avatar' variety. The head of state emphasized that this approach allows for double returns from the land and increases farmers' incomes.

In addition to energy solutions, the complex relies on Austrian sprinkler irrigation technology from Bauer. The results speak for themselves: water consumption decreased by 40%, fertilizer use by 35%, and yields increased by a quarter. Today, the project already provides employment for 350 people and exports worth $2.5 million. Given the success of the Kuva experiment, the unique waste-free 'energy-water-feed' cycle is planned to be scaled to 2,000 hectares in 13 regions of the country, supplemented by digital monitoring using agricultural drones.

Source: podrobno.uz