Beauty of Agrivoltaic Systems: Double Utilization of Land for Crop and Electricity Production

In order to meet global energy demands with clean renewable energy such as with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, large surface areas are needed due to the relatively diffuse nature of solar energy. Using large tracts of land for solar farms increases competition for land resources as food production demand and energy demand both grow. These coupled land challenges can be addressed using agrivoltaic systems—co-developing the same area of land for solar PV power as well as for conventional agriculture. This study uses simulation models (PVSyst for PV production and STICS for agricultural production) to gauge the technical potential of scaling agrivoltaic systems. Results show over a 30% increase in economic value from farms implementing agrivoltaics compared to conventional agriculture, with significant potential to meet energy demands for over 15 million people. The paper discusses strategies to minimize crop yield losses, maintain price stability, and optimize land use efficiency.

International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, 10(6)