The renewable energy sector is facing a significant land use challenge as it competes for land with other industries, particularly agriculture. Traditional renewable energy infrastructure, such as wind and solar farms, requires large land areas to operate at scale. This competition for land is driving up prices for renewable energy developers and hindering the growth of the clean energy sector.
One potential solution to this land use issue is agricultural photovoltaics (AV), also known as agrivoltaics. AV is the practice of combining crop production and renewable energy production on the same land, creating a symbiotic relationship between the two. The crops benefit from the shade provided by the solar panels, while the plants release water through transpiration, cooling the air around the panels and increasing their efficiency.
Although AV is not a new concept, it has not been widely adopted since its development in the 1980s. Optimizing AV systems to meet the needs of both crop production and solar energy generation is more complex than it may seem. Both plants and solar panels require ample sunlight, and ensuring that both get what they need can be challenging.
Researchers are exploring ways to design efficient AV systems that can strike a balance between crop productivity and energy generation at scale. One proposed solution is to divide light into different wavelengths and direct different parts of light to different uses, such as using red light for crops to photosynthesize and blue light for solar panels. This approach would maximize the benefits for both crops and solar panels.
Studies have shown that shade-tolerant crops with a large aboveground leaf area are ideal candidates for AV. Examples include arugula, kale, and tomatoes. Although AV has not been implemented at a large scale yet, pilot projects are already showing promise in Germany, France, and Japan. Farmers in Germany are growing hay in the furrows between solar panels, grapevines are growing in the shade of solar panels in French vineyards, and tea leaves in Japan are benefiting from panel-produced shade.
Scaling up AV could have significant benefits for both agriculture and the renewable energy industry. By utilizing shade and generating electricity, AV could transform the way we produce crops. The potential to produce both food and renewable energy on the same land could be a game changer for sustainable development and land use.
In conclusion, agrivoltaics offers a promising solution to the land use challenges faced by the renewable energy sector. By combining crop production and solar energy generation, AV can maximize land efficiency and create a more collaborative approach to land use. With further research and development, agrivoltaics has the potential to revolutionize the way we utilize land for sustainable energy production and food security.
Author：Alan Caldwell
