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c/justpost · by jaykrown@lemmy.world · 80d

I had this idea of agrivoltaic azolla cultivation, combining solar farm with carbon sequestration

I'm not sure this would actually work? Is there anything wrong with it? I think it would only work somewhere that doesn't experience cold winters. The idea that it uses things that are already highly available in a very efficient synergistic combination.

14 points · 4 comments · view on lemmy.world

4 Comments

badcommandorfilename@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 80d (2 replies)

On a surface look, probably it works. Maybe things like nitrate/phosphate balance or pest/microbe control impact the long term production.

The problem, as with all CCS strategies is: how do you pay for it? Maybe you can sell those products for a rate that covers the labour and wear and upkeep of the system? It might just be more cost effective to take the carbon-free energy and use it to displace fossil fuel consumption...

jaykrown@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 80d

Excess energy sale, biochar, animal feed, fertilizer sales. Along with carbon capture credits if somewhere that pays for that.

jaykrown@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 80d

Oh I also forgot, technically you could probably raise fish in the pond as well, but I don't know if they'd eat all the azolla. The point also is to keep the pond shallow, less than 10 cm, to make it easier to construct, harvest, and manage.

jaykrown@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 80d

Master Plan: Agrivoltaic Azolla Cultivation (Simplified)

A practical, low-cost system that uses solar panels and floating water ferns (Azolla) to capture carbon and generate profitable products.

The 4-Step System Loop

1) Shallow Clay Ponds

  • Setup: Dig flat, shallow trenches (~10 m wide) lined with local clay.
  • Water depth: Keep at 5–10 cm to minimize weight and water use.
  • Flow: Use gravity and simple plastic gates to slowly drift ferns toward the harvester.

2) Solar Panel Canopy (Agrivoltaics)

  • Shade: Mount solar panels to block 40–50% of harsh midday sun, reducing fern sunburn.
  • Cooling: Pond evaporation cools panels, improving efficiency by up to 12%.
  • Power: Panels generate 100% of facility electricity.

3) Automated Squeeze Loop

  • Skim: Automated paddle wheels continuously collect grown ferns.
  • Squeeze: High-torque electric screw press reduces moisture from ~95% to ~50%.
  • Recycle: Nutrient-rich juice is piped back into ponds, recycling ~90% of fertilizer.

4) Solar Drying & Final Products

  • Dry: Sun-dry squeezed biomass in simple plastic tunnel greenhouses.
  • Outputs:
    • Biochar: Bake dry fern without oxygen to lock carbon away.
    • Animal feed: High-protein dry ferns for livestock and fish feed.
    • Fertilizer: Pelletized fern to replace synthetic nitrogen fertilizer.

Estimated Yearly Yields (Per 1 Hectare Pilot)

  • Solar energy: ~600,000 kWh clean power
  • Biomass: ~35–40 tons dry Azolla
  • Carbon captured: ~110 tons COâ‚‚e sequestered
  • Water & nutrients: 100% recycled closed loop