What is Agrivoltaics?
Most large, ground‐mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are installed on land used only for solar energy production. It’s possible to co-locate solar and agriculture on the same land, which could provide benefits to both the solar and agricultural industries. Co-location, also known as agrivoltaics or dual-use solar, is defined as agricultural production, such as crop or livestock production or pollinator habitats, underneath solar panels or adjacent to solar panels. As of March 2023, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory had identified 314 agrivoltaic projects in the United States representing over 2.8GW of solar capacity, of which most were focused on grazing and pollinator habitat, with relatively integrating crop production.
Why is Agrivoltaics Important?
In models of a decarbonized electricity system, the Solar Futures Study estimates that solar energy could provide 1 terawatt of electricity-generating capacity to the grid by 2035, which would require the use of 5.7 million acres of land. While this is a small fraction (less than 0.3%) of US land area, solar is likely to conflict with agriculture land use because the same attributes that make land appropriate for solar energy (plentiful sun, flat land) are also attractive for agriculture.
A journal article published in Nature Sustainability finds the co‐location of solar PV and agriculture could provide agricultural enterprises with diversified revenue sources and ecological benefits, while reducing land use competition and siting restrictions. Optimizing system designs and business practices will help to enable simultaneous land use for both industries, which can benefit farmers, lower solar soft costs and enable the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) to reach its goals.
SETO Research in Agrivoltaics
SETO projects in this research topic are developing technologies, evaluating practices, and conducting research and analysis that enable farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural enterprises to gain value from solar technologies while keeping land available for agricultural purposes.
The Foundational Agrivoltaic Research for Megawatt Scale (FARMS) funding program funds projects that are developing impact studies to examine how agrivoltaic designs affect both agriculture production and energy production, studying how agrivoltaics can integrate into existing solar farms, and developing resources that will lower the barriers of entry to agrivoltaics. Additionally, the Solar Energy Technologies Office Fiscal Year 2020 funding program funds projects that are developing new system designs and technologies, developing co‐location models that help overcome soft cost barriers and realize additional value streams, and support research and analysis on the ecological or performance impacts of solar and agriculture co‐location.
Explore all of SETO’s projects in the Solar Energy Research Database.
Additional Resources
Learn more about soft costs research, other solar energy research in SETO, and current and former funding programs.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Related to Agrivoltaics
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 15: Life on Land
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
- SDG 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable.
- SDG 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
- SDG 12.2: Achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
- SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
- SDG 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Number of agrivoltaic projects implemented
- Total solar capacity generated through agrivoltaics
- Percentage of land used for solar energy production that is also used for agriculture
- Reduction in land use competition and siting restrictions
- Reduction in soft costs of solar energy
- Impact studies on the effects of agrivoltaic designs on agriculture production and energy production
- Development of resources that lower barriers to entry for agrivoltaics
- Research and analysis on the ecological and performance impacts of solar and agriculture co-location
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. | Total solar capacity generated through agrivoltaics |
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable. | Reduction in soft costs of solar energy |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage. | Reduction in land use competition and siting restrictions |
| SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | Achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. | Percentage of land used for solar energy production that is also used for agriculture |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning. | Research and analysis on the ecological and performance impacts of solar and agriculture co-location |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services. | Impact studies on the effects of agrivoltaic designs on agriculture production and energy production |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: energy.gov
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