Agrivoltaics or agrophotovoltaics means co-developing the same area of land for both solar photovoltaic power and agricultural production.[1] The coexistence of solar panels and crops implies a sharing of solar radiation between these two types of production.[2] It can be defined as the practice of integrating solar photovoltaics with agricultural practices, for siting photovoltaic production systems on or adjacent to cropland or grazing land. It implies the symbiotic co-production of both agricultural goods and solar energy, with the intent of optimizing the combined outputs. An Ontario company calls Agrivoltaics "a perfect combination of solar panels and plants on farmland... to generate crops and energy simultaneously and without conflict." Agrivoltaics can be thought of as the scientifically planned companion planting of solar energy production and agricultural production.
This page introduces the topic and is intended to help users to find specific content based on geographic focus, climate type, crop or animal production type, and other factors.
Most Recent Additions[edit | edit source]
News from the U.S. Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA), October 2024, Analysis Tools Can Help Farmers Calculate Economics of Agrivoltaics, https://attra.ncat.org/analysis-tools-can-help-farmers-calculate-economics-of-agrivoltaics/ And, see: https://www.umass.edu/news/article/new-analysis-tools-umass-amherst-can-help-farmers-make-informed-choice-agrivoltaics AND https://openei.org/wiki/InSPIRE
Center for Rural Affairs, October 2024, Fact Sheet Provides Resources for Dual-Use Solar Ordinances. https://www.cfra.org/news-release/new-center-rural-affairs-fact-sheet-provides-resources-dual-use-solar-ordinances
University of Massachusetts Amherst developed a new set of analytical tools to help farmers calculate whether agrivoltaics make economic sense for them. The two spreadsheet-based tools consist of a crop-specific logbook to analyze farm-level activities and a whole-farm tool to calculate aggregate projections for trade-offs between crop production with or without agrivoltaics. The spreadsheets incorporate factors such as different solar technologies, crop spacing, labor costs, and extra fuel to navigate farm equipment around solar panels.
Agrivoltaics case studies[edit | edit source]
By geography: China, Japan, Japan, Japan, Netherlands, Ontario, Philippines, Thailand [Add more in alphabetical order, please.][edit | edit source]
By crop type -- animals, plants[edit | edit source]
- Animal grazing [Add more in alphabetical Order, please.
- Berries:
- Fruit Orchards:
- Plants:
- Wheat:
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Cultivar
- Other specialty agrivoltaic opportunities, linked to research and case studies: greenhouses, aquaculture, hydroponics
Where does agrivoltaics fit within the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals?
Where does agrivoltaics fit within the context of the Pattern Language for a Conservation Economy and Reliable Prosperity?
Related pages on Appropedia[edit | edit source]
Welcome to the Free Appropriate Sustainable Technology (FAST) research group run by Professor Joshua Pearce, the Thompson Chair in Information Technology and Innovation at the Thompson Centre for Engineering Leadership & Innovation. He holds appointments at Ivey Business School, the top ranked business school in Canada and the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at Western University in Canada, a top 1% global university. Western is ranked #3 in the world for sustainability and Ivey is as well among business schools. FAST helps Western achieve its sustainability goals as we explore the way solar photovoltaic technology can sustainably power our society and how open-source hardware like open source appropriate technologies (or OSAT) and RepRap 3-D printing can drive distributed recycling and additive manufacturing (DRAM) (and maybe even social change).
To enable lower-cost building materials, a free-swinging bifacial vertical solar photovoltaic (PV) rack has been proposed, which complies with Canadian building codes and is the lowest capital-cost agrivoltaics rack. The wind force applied to the free-swinging PV, however, causes it to have varying tilt angles depending on the wind speed and direction. No energy performance model accurately describes such a system. To provide a simulation model for the free-swinging PV, where wind speed and direction govern the array tilt angle, this study builds upon the open-source System Advisor Model (SAM) using Python. After the SAM python model is validated, a geometrical analysis is performed to determine the view factors of the swinging bifacial PV, which are then used to calculate the solar irradiation incident on the front and back faces of the bifacial PV modules. The findings reveal that free-swinging PV generates 12% more energy than vertical fixed-tilt PV systems. Free-swinging PV offers the lowest capital cost and the racking levelized cost is over 30% lower than the LCOE of other agrivoltaics racks including the LCOE of commercial fixed-tilt metal racking, optimized fixed-tilt wood racking PV, and seasonally adjusted wood racking PV.
Popular agrivoltaic systems use photovoltaic (PV) farms for pasture grazing animals. In general, these agrivoltaic systems do not reduce the capital cost of a PV farm and in some cases can increase it. To overcome this challenge this study investigates the potential for retrofitting existing animal fencing on farms to have dual use for vertical-mounted monofacial PV racking. Specifically, this study catalogs types of fences and wind load calculations classified under Risk Category I are run through a new python-based Open Source Wind Load Calculator to determine the viability of fence-based racking throughout the U.S. The base shear force for all the fences are calculated for a range of wind loads from 80mph to 150mph (129 km/h to 241 km/h) and the results are mapped to indicate the number of PV modules between the vertical fence poles a fence can tolerate in a specific location. The results show the required fence type including post and battens in a given area for sheep, goats, pigs, cows, and alpaca to be used for agrivoltaics. Overall, at least one PV module between posts is acceptable indicating a new agrivoltaic system potential that as little as $0.035/kWh for racking on existing fencing. Although the yield for a vertical PV can range from 20 to 76 % of an optimized tilt angle depending on azimuth, the racking cost savings enable fence-retrofit agrivoltaics to often produce lower levelized cost electricity. Future work is necessary to determine the full scope of benefits of vertical PV agricultural fencing on a global scale.
There is an intense need to optimize agrivoltaic systems. This article describes the invention of a new testing system: the parametric open source cold-frame agrivoltaic system (POSCAS). POSCAS is an adapted gardening cold-frame used in cold climates as it acts as a small greenhouse for agricultural production. POSCAS is designed to test partially transparent solar photovoltaic (PV) modules targeting the agrivoltaic market. It can both function as a traditional cold frame, but it can also be automated to function as a full-service greenhouse. The integrated PV module roof can be used to power the controls or it can be attached to a microinverter to produce power. POSCAS can be placed in an experimental array for testing agricultural and power production. It can be easily adapted for any type of partially transparent PV module. An array of POSCAS systems allows for the testing of agrivoltaic impacts from the percent transparency of the modules by varying the thickness of a thin film PV material or the density of silicon-based cells, and various forms of optical enhancement, anti-reflection coatings and solar light spectral shifting materials in the back sheet. All agrivoltaic variables can be customized to identify ideal PV designs for a given agricultural crop.
Vertical bifacial solar photovoltaic (PV) racking systems offer the opportunity for large-scale agrivoltaics to be employed at farms producing field crops with conventional farming equipment. Unfortunately, commercial proprietary vertical racks cost more than all types of conventional PV farm racking solutions. To overcome these cost barriers, this study reports on the development of a new wood-based PV racking design. The open-source design consists of a hinge mechanism, which reduces mechanical loading and enables wood to be used as the main structural material, and is the first of its kind. This open-source vertical wood-based PV rack is (i) constructed from locally accessible (domestic) renewable and sustainable materials, (ii) able to be made with hand tools by the average farmer on site, (iii) possesses a 25-year lifetime to match PV warranties, and (iv) is structurally sound, following Canadian building codes to weather high wind speeds and heavy snow loads. The results showed that the capital cost of the racking system is less expensive than the commercial equivalent and all of the previous wood-based rack designs, at a single unit retail cost of CAD 0.21. The racking LCOE is 77% of the cost of an equivalent commercial racking system using retail small-scale component costs, and is 22%, 34%, and 38% less expensive than commercial metal vertical racking, wood fixed tilt racking, and wood seasonal tilt racking costs, respectively. Overall, wooden vertical swinging PV racking provides users with a low-cost, highly available alternative to conventional metal vertical racking, along with a potential increase in energy yield in high wind areas thanks to its unique swinging mechanism.
Scholarly literature about Agrivoltaics in General[edit | edit source]
- Al Mamun, Mohammad Abdullah, Paul Dargusch, et al., 2022, "A review of research on agrivoltaic systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Volume 161, ISSN 1364-0321, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.112351.
- Barron-Gafford, G.A., Pavao-Zuckerman, M.A., Minor, R.L. et al. Agrivoltaics provide mutual benefits across the food–energy–water nexus in drylands. Nat Sustain 2, 848–855 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-019-0364-5
- Harshavardhan Dinesh, and Joshua M. Pearce, "The potential of agrivoltaic systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 54, 299-308 (2016). DOI:10.1016/j.rser.2015.10.024, open access
- Majumdar, Debaleena, and Martin J. Pasqualetti, "Dual use of agricultural land: Introducing 'agrivoltaics' in Phoenix Metropolitan Statistical Area, USA," Landscape and Urban Planning 170 (2018), 150-168, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2017.10.011 Open access
- Pascaris, Alexis S., Chelsea Schelly, Laurie Burnham, and Joshua M. Pearce. "Integrating solar energy with agriculture: Industry perspectives on the market, community, and socio-political dimensions of agrivoltaics," Energy Research & Social Science 75(2021), 102023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2021.102023, open access
- Pascaris, Alexis S., Chelsea Schelly, and Joshua M. Pearce, "A First Investigation of Agriculture Sector Perspectives on the Opportunities and Barriers for Agrivoltaics," Agronomy 10(2020), n12: 1885. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10121885, Open access
- Pearce, Joshua, Agrivoltaics in Ontario Canada: Promise and Policy, December 2021, University of Western Ontario, PrePrints 2021, DOI:10.20944/preprints202112.0430.v1
- ScienceDirect search for more: https://www.sciencedirect.com/search?qs=Agrivoltaics
- Pearce, J. M. (2022). Agrivoltaics in Ontario Canada: Promise and Policy. Sustainability, 14(5), 3037.
- Pearce, J. M. (2021). Parametric Open Source Cold-Frame Agrivoltaic Systems. Inventions, 6(4), 71.
- Uzair Jamil, Thomas Hickey, and Joshua M. Pearce, 2024, "Solar energy modelling and proposed crops for different types of agrivoltaics systems," Energy Volume 304, 132074, ISSN 0360-5442, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2024.132074.
Scholarly literature about Agrivoltaics for Specific Crops and Animals[edit | edit source]
- Grapes: Prannay R. Malu, Utkarsh S. Sharma, and Joshua M. Pearce, "Agrivoltaic potential on grape farms in India," Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments 23(2017), 104-110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2017.08.004.
- Rabbits:
- Alexis Pascaris, Rob Handler, Chelsea Schelly, and Joshua M Pearce, Life cycle assessment of pasture-based agrivoltaic systems: Emissions and energy use of integrated rabbit production, December 2021, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666784321000243?via%3Dihub. Open access.
- William Lytle, Theresa K. Meyer, et al., "Conceptual Design and Rationale for a New Agrivoltaics Concept: Pasture-Raised Rabbits and Solar Farming," Journal of Cleaner Production, 282(2021), 124476, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124476, Open access
- Sheep: Kochendoerfer, Nikola, and Michael L. Thonney, Grazing Sheep on Solar Sites in New York State: Opportunities and Challenges Scope and scaling-up of the NYS sheep industry to graze ground-mounted photovoltaic arrays for vegetation management. Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, February 2021. https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs.cornell.edu/dist/c/9310/files/2021/02/Solar-Site-Sheep-Grazing-in-NY.pdf
- Pepper, Corn & Winter Wheat: Pearce, J. M. (2022). Agrivoltaics in Ontario Canada: Promise and Policy. Sustainability, 14(5), 3037.
- Kiwifruit: Jiang, S., Tang, D., Zhao, L., Liang, C., Cui, N., Gong, D., ... & Peng, Y. (2022). Effects of different photovoltaic shading levels on kiwifruit growth, yield and water productivity under “agrivoltaic” system in Southwest China. Agricultural Water Management, 269, 107675.
- Komatsuna, Mizuna, Kabu, and Spinach: KIRIMURA, M., TAKESHITA, S., MATSUO, M., ZUSHI, K., GEJIMA, Y., HONSHO, C., ... & NISHIOKA, K. (2022). Effects of Agrivoltaics (Photovoltaic Power Generation Facilities on Farmland) on Growing Condition and Yield of Komatsuna, Mizuna, Kabu, and Spinach. Environmental Control in Biology, 60(2), 117-127.
- Lettuce & Silverbeet: Nassar, A., Perez-Wurfl, I., Roemer, C., & Hameiri, Z. Improving Productivity of Cropland through Agrivoltaics.
- Bok Choy: Kumpanalaisatit, M., Setthapun, W., Sintuya, H., & Jansri, S. N. (2022). Efficiency Improvement of Ground-Mounted Solar Power Generation in Agrivoltaic System by Cultivation of Bok Choy (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis L.) Under the Panels. International Journal of Renewable Energy Development, 11(1).
- Corn: Sekiyama, T., & Nagashima, A. (2019). Solar sharing for both food and clean energy production: performance of agrivoltaic systems for corn, a typical shade-intolerant crop. Environments, 6(6), 65.
- Kale, chard, broccoli, peppers, tomatoes, and spinach: Hudelson, T., & Lieth, J. H. (2021, June). Crop production in partial shade of solar photovoltaic panels on trackers. In AIP Conference Proceedings (Vol. 2361, No. 1, p. 080001). AIP Publishing LLC.
- Potatoes: Gfüllner, L., Muller, O., Meier-Grüll, M., Jedmowski, C., & Berwind, M. Yield Optimization Through Control Strategies in Tracked Agrivoltaic Systems.
- Corn, rice, soybean, adzuki bean, garlic, onion, rye, mixed planting of corn with soybean: Jo, H., Asekova, S., Bayat, M. A., Ali, L., Song, J. T., Ha, Y. S., ... & Lee, J. D. (2022). Comparison of Yield and Yield Components of Several Crops Grown under Agro-Photovoltaic System in Korea. Agriculture, 12(5), 619.
Links[edit | edit source]
- American Farmland Trust: High-Level Guiding Principles for Solar Energy Development
- The Bridge, a periodical published by the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), publishes articles on engineering research, education, and practice; science and technology policy; and the interface between engineering and technology and society. The Spring 2022 Issue is focused on Smart Agriculture. JUNE 15, 2022 VOLUME 52 ISSUE 2. https://www.nae.edu/276483/Summer-Bridge-on-Smart-Agriculture
- Coalition for Community-Solar Access, Community Solar And Farming Are Proving To Be A Perfect Match, April 2021 by Jean Haggerty.
- Open Energy Information (OpenEI). Agrivoltaics Primer. https://openei.org/wiki/InSPIRE/Primer
- With funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, and a growing number of universities are researching solar farm designs.
- NREL: Beneath Solar Panels, the Seeds of Opportunity Sprout
- Article in Ecosystem Services, Volume 47, February 2021, 101227: Modeling the ecosystem services of native vegetation management practices at solar energy facilities
- Article in Nature Sustainability Journal: Techno–ecological synergies of solar energy for global sustainability
- February 2021 Webinar Sponsored by Solar United Neighbors:
- Video recording: https://youtu.be/BRYGY498gsU
- Chat log and registrant list (without contact information): https://bit.ly/2ZS2JRC
- Full paper and presentation slides: https://bit.ly/3ss6AkC
- Wikipedia Definition of Agrivoltaic
- Audiopedia Definition, on YouTube (Audio only), with links to additional videos about Agrivoltaics
- Search for agrivoltaics at U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Introduction to Agrivoltaics from University of Arizona
- Introduction to Agrivoltaics from Oregon State University
- Introduction to Agrivoltaics from AgDaily online magazine
Events[edit | edit source]
- Clean Energy Resource Teams (Minnesota), Habitat Friendly Solar Summit, March 9, 2022,
News Media Reports[edit | edit source]
- Heckeroth, Stephen, and Carly Rixham, "Agrivoltaics: Have your kale and eat it, too" [Electronic article], Solar Today, Spring 2021, pp. 6-11. https://ases.org/solartoday/
- Kennedy, Ryan, September 2022, "Agrivoltaics: Co-locating solar and agriculture yields mutual benefits," PV Magazine [electronic article], https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2022/09/08/agrivoltaics-co-locating-solar-and-agriculture-yields-mutual-benefits/
- National Public Radio program, 1A (“One A”), March 2, 2023, 1A Remaking America: Can Solar-Power Help Fix Drought-Ravaged Farmlands? [33 minutes], https://www.npr.org/2023/03/02/1160771088/1a-remaking-america-can-solar-power-help-fix-drought-ravaged-farmlands
- Pickerell, Kelly, "Two-year study on economic and environmental impacts of co-located solar + agriculture now underway," Solar Power World, 4 May 2021, https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2021/05/two-year-study-on-economic-and-environmental-impacts-of-co-located-solar-agriculture-now-under-way/
- Prevost, Lisa, "Connecticut solar developers enlist sheep to cut grass and ease tensions [Electronic article], Energy News Network, 3 March 2021. https://energynews.us/2021/03/03/northeast/connecticut-solar-developers-enlist-sheep-to-cut-grass-and-ease-tensions/
See also[edit | edit source]
- Floatovoltaics - Photovoltaics that float on water
- Agrivoltaic potential on grape farms in India
- The potential of agrivoltaic systems
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.
- Coal with Carbon Capture and Sequestration is not as Land Use Efficient as Solar Photovoltaic Technology for Climate Neutral Electricity Production
- Dual use of land for PV farms and agriculture literature review
- sheep
- Israeli white plastic reflectors
- A Farmer's Guide to Going Solar (NREL)
- German guidelines: https://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/content/dam/ise/en/documents/publications/studies/APV-Guideline.pdf
- 2021 review
- Miskin, C.K., Li, Y., Perna, A., Ellis, R.G., Grubbs, E.K., Bermel, P. and Agrawal, R., 2019. Sustainable co-production of food and solar power to relax land-use constraints. Nature Sustainability, 2(10), pp.972-980.
- Retrofitting solar parks for agrivoltaics
- Shading PV
- Alexis' talk at American Solar Grazing Association2021
In the News[edit source]
- Agrivoltaics: solar energy + better crops Climate and Nature
- Why solar power and farmers’ fields could be the perfect combination TVO
- Solar farms and sheep show the makings of a clean energy classic duo Business Renewables
- Agrivoltaics charge up St. Albert-area farms St Albert Gazette
- Sheep, solar and crops. How some Alberta farms are creating ideal growing conditions Western Wheel
- Sheep, solar and crops. How some Alberta farms create ideal growing conditions Voxpopuli
- 3D printed clamps for front-surface PV mounting on wood racking PV Magazine
- Harvesting the Sun to Grow in the Shade Garden Culture Magazine
- What crops fit with vertical agrivoltaics? PV Magazine
- Agrivoltaics – Keeping the farm in the solar farm Green Energy Futures
- Booming solar industry has a growing appetite for weed-chomping crews CBC
- La floreciente industria solar tiene un creciente apetito por equipos de devoradores de maleza Espanol news
- Des cochons à l’ombre des panneaux solaires, l’agrivoltaïsme gagne en popularité Radio Canada
- Pigs in the shade of solar panels, agrivoltaics gains popularity Euro Day France
- Des porcs à l’ombre des panneaux solaires, l’agrivoltaïque gagne en popularité News Day France
- ICI Radio
- The Weather Network
- Agrowoltaika zyskuje na wartości. Panele słoneczne na polu nie przekreślają upraw Business Insider Poland
- Kanada/ Coraz popularniejsza agrowoltaika: rolnictwo i produkcja energii w jednym Deon Pl
- Tu zboże, tam fotowoltaika. Rolnicy produkują i żywność i energię na jednym polu Bankier PL
- Kanada: coraz popularniejsza agrowoltaika: rolnictwo i produkcja energii w jednym MSN PL
- Agrowoltaika podbija świat (Agrovoltaics is conquering the world ) Warzywnichtow Polish
- Coraz popularniejsza agrowoltaika - rolnictwo i produkcja energii w jednym Agro Polska
- Agriculture and Energy Future - Agrivoltaics Agritecture
- MBA students examine a solar farm’s benefits for critical issues case competition Ivey
- Ontario solar curbs rankle expert BNN Bloomberg
- Kanada: coraz popularniejsza agrowoltaika: rolnictwo i produkcja energii w jednym MSN Poland
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Dinesh, Harshavardhan; Pearce, Joshua M. (2016). "The potential of agrivoltaic systems". Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 54: 299–308. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2015.10.024.
- ↑ "A New Vision for Farming: Chickens, Sheep, and ... Solar Panels" (in en). 2020-04-28. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
