Aerial solar power generation for agriculture

What is agrivoltaic farming?

Here’s all you need to know about ‘agrivoltaic farming’ Agrivoltaic farming uses the shaded space underneath solar panels to grow crops. This article was updated on 28 October 2022. Agrivoltaic farming is the practice of growing crops underneath solar panels. Scientific studies show some crops thrive when grown in this way.

Can agrivoltaics combine energy and agricultural production?

To address this dilemma, agrivoltaics has been proposed, combining energy and agricultural production on the same area. Our objectives were to review and synthesise the current agronomic knowledge on agrivoltaics and its future development possibilities.

Do agrivoltaic systems accept solar power production?

For a holistic understanding of the acceptance effects of solar power production in agrivoltaic systems, it is essential to reflect that technologies are always embedded in a socio-technical human-technology-environment system, that is, interact with both the groups of actors involved and the regional setting.

Can a solar photovoltaic plant be combined with agricultural production?

To address competition for land, it is possible to combine the installation of a solar photovoltaic (PV) plant with agricultural production on the same area . This new production system was first devised and proposed in the 1980s to allow additional use of agricultural land .

Will agricultural land be used for solar energy?

Agricultural land in the U.S. has the technical potential to provide 27 terawatts of solar energy capacity. This is a quarter of the total U.S. solar energy capacity of 115 TW. Only 0.3% of farmland is expected to be used for solar energy by 2035. Will using land for solar panels drive up the price of food?

How agrivoltaic systems can help farmers in East Africa?

Elsewhere, agrivoltaic systems in East Africa are allowing farmers to make better use of land that was previously seen as unviable. An Agrivoltaic farming project in Kenya is using solar panels held several metres off the ground, with gaps in between them. The shade from the panels protects vegetables from heat stress and water loss.