The Electrical Machines and Drives Research Group (EM&D) at the National University of Colombia (UNAL) has developed a prototype system that integrates solar panels with hydroponic cultivation towers, allowing vegetables to grow using rainwater.
“In this way, each square meter can be used to produce food and generate energy at the same time,” the researchers said, noting that the system is still in the prototype phase. “The idea is to create a structure where vegetables such as lettuce, chard and spinach grow in water instead of soil.”
The tower has a modular design with 20 cm rings stacked to form structures up to 2.5 meters high, optimizing space to grow 80 plants per square meter, compared to 10 in traditional methods.
Its vertical layout reduces strain on farmers by easing access to plants and minimizing bending, which is common in conventional farming.
The system, which is designed to collect rainwater, maximizes resource use for agricultural production. While primarily intended for vegetables, it can adapt to other crops or applications.
“For example, in Ubaté, a dairy municipality par excellence, solar panels could be installed on the places where the cattle are and thus energy and milk would be produced at the same time,” explained the researchers.
UNAL researchers are tackling the challenge of solar panel shadows reducing crop productivity by testing semi-transparent panels that allow more light to reach plants, reducing the potential negative impact.
The next development phase will involve testing the system's resistance and durability to ensure the towers and solar panels can withstand Cundinamarca's heavy rains and strong winds.
