A Vertical Bifacial Agrivoltaic System for Tropical Climates: 3D Crop-Level Validation and Techno-Economic Performance

The rapid proliferation of ground-based solar farms frequently results in land-use conflicts, as traditional tilted photovoltaic structures obstruct sunlight from reaching the ground, rendering the underlying area unsuitable for agricultural purposes. To address this issue, this study introduces a vertical-axis bifacial agrovoltaic system designed to facilitate both solar energy production and low-light crop cultivation on the same parcel of land. A 500 kWp AC vertical solar farm was conceptualized using a comprehensive 3D SketchUp model and assessed in PVsyst to evaluate the energy output, shading effects, bifacial advantages, and light distribution conducive to crop growth. The system was configured with optimized row spacing to accommodate three types of crops such as short vegetables, medium-sized horticulture, and specific fruit trees demonstrating its full-dual use potential. The simulation results indicated an annual energy output of 517 MWh, a specific yield of$845 \text{kWh} / \text{kWp}$, and a performance ratio of 90%, suggesting that vertically mounted bifacial modules perform effectively in tropical environments. The techno-economic analysis underscores strong viability, with a payback period of 4.4 years, an IRR of 25.85%, and reduced OPEX owing to shared agricultural labor. These findings highlight vertical-axis agrovoltaics as a viable and efficient solution for regions with limited land, aiming to secure both food and clean energy supply.