The potential of agrivoltaic systems

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In order to meet global energy demands with clean renewable energy such as with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, large surface areas are needed because of the relatively diffuse nature of solar energy. Much of this demand can be matched with aggressive building integrated PV and rooftop PV, but the remainder can be met with land-based PV farms. Using large tracts of land for solar farms will increase competition for land resources as food production demand and energy demand are both growing and vie for the limited land resources. This land competition is exacerbated by the increasing population. These coupled land challenges can be ameliorated using the concept of agrivoltaics or co-developing the same area of land for both solar PV power as well as for conventional agriculture. In this paper, the agrivoltaic experiments to date are reviewed and summarized. A coupled simulation model is developed for both PV production (PVSyst) and agricultural production (Simulateur mulTIdisciplinaire les Cultures Standard (STICS) crop model), to gauge the technical potential of scaling agrivoltaic systems. The results showed that the value of solar generated electricity coupled to shade-tolerant crop production created an over 30% increase in economic value from farms deploying agrivoltaic systems instead of conventional agriculture. Utilizing shade tolerant crops enables crop yield losses to be minimized and thus maintain crop price stability. In addition, this dual use of agricultural land can have a significant effect on national PV production. The results showed an increase in PV power between over 40 and 70 GW if lettuce cultivation alone is converted to agrivoltaic systems in the U.S. It is clear, further work is warranted in this area and that the outputs for different crops and geographic areas should be explored to ascertain the potential of agrivoltaic farming throughout the globe.

Method

External resources for agrivoltaics

See also

The Western Innovation for Renewable Energy (WIRED) system is currently under construction to test out new open source methods to reduce PV systems costs and enable novel forms of agrivoltaics including the world's first agrivoltaic agrotunnel.

Services provided by agrivoltaics are: renewable electricity generation, decreased green-house gas emissions, reduced climate change, increased crop yield, plant protection from excess solar energy, plant protection from inclement weather such as hail, water conservation, agricultural employment, local food, improved health from pollution reduction increased revenue for farmers, a hedge against inflation, the potential to produce nitrogen fertilizer on farm, on farm production of renewable fuels such as anhydrous ammonia or hydrogen, and electricity for EV charging for on- or off-farm use.
Agrivoltaics Canada - What is Agrivoltaics

In the News

From: Financial Analysis of Agrivoltaic Sheep: Breeding and Auction Lamb Business Models

  1. Raising sheep for grazing under solar panels makes everyone clean, green money - Western News
  2. Sheep Grazing Under Solar Panels Yields Green Profits Mirage News
  3. Agrivoltaics paired with sheep production makes nearly 100% of land grazable TechXplore
  4. Agrivoltaics paired with sheep production makes nearly 100% of land grazable MSN
  5. Grazing ’solar’ sheep offer lucrative solution for farmers My Science
  6. Global Renwable News
  7. Rinnovabili
  8. Education News Canada
  9. How agrivoltaics and “solar” sheep are redefining profitable farming in Canada PV Buzz
  10. Nature’s best lawnmower: How solar grazing is changing the photovoltaic landscape Euronews
    1. Yahoo NewZealand
    2. Bundle
    3. Photos: Sheep grazing boosts solar farms and soil health in the US and Europe Interesting Engineering
  11. O melhor cortador de relva da natureza: como o pastoreio solar está a mudar a paisagem fotovoltaica EuroNews
  12. La meilleure tondeuse à gazon de la nature : comment le pâturage solaire change le paysage photovoltaïque - Observatoiredeleurope
  13. Solar sheep grazing under agrivoltaic arrays can maximise land use News9
  14. El mejor cortacésped natural: ¿Cómo el pastoreo solar está cambiando el panorama fotovoltaico? Yahoo Spain
  15. ‘Solar shepherds’ earn big by grazing sheep on solar farms — and they benefit everyone involved Modern Science
  16. Sheep farmers are crazy about solar power plants: “Salaries are higher than lawyers” Central asia Climate Portal
  17. Researchers make unexpected discovery about sheep raised in nontraditional environment: 'There is an enormous opportunity' The Cool Down
    1. MSN
  18. ‘Solar shepherds’ earn big by grazing sheep on solar farms — and they benefit everyone involved The Conversation
    1. Yahoo News
    2. Down to Earth
    3. Renew Economy
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    5. The National Tribune (Australia)
    6. Winnipeg Free Press
    7. Morning Ag Clips
    8. The 14
    9. ATTRA NCAT
    10. OSU
  19. Får och solparker - en vinst för både lantbruk, får och klimat Energinyheter (se)
  20. Researchers make unexpected discovery about sheep raised in nontraditional environment: 'There is an enormous opportunity' Yahoo
  21. Une étude révèle un duo gagnant : moutons et panneaux solaires, “un potentiel immense” Le Energeek
  22. ‘Farming Sunshine’ Brings Food, Power Producers Together for Local Baaa-nefit The Energy Mix
  23. Bùng nổ ngành nông nghiệp quang điện Saigon Online
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