Agrivoltaics: the fusion between agriculture and photovoltaic panels for more efficiency on both ends

Abstract

Agrivoltaics could be the solution to solve the ever-increasing demand for land to produce high quantities of food and energy.

By placing photovoltaic panels either interspaced, vertically or overhead, you can increase the crop yield from the panels acting as a barrier from harsh weather conditions, and also produce more electricity per installed capacity compared with regular ground mounted photovoltaic panels, mostly because in agrivoltaics systems the panels operate at a much cooler temperature. The results come from studies, where double glass photovoltaic modules have been installed in one case above a field of raspberries, and in another case at an even greater height above a field of 4 different crops. Mainly with the complexity of designing such systems and with the cost of building them. The electricity produced by them is a little more expensive than traditional ground mounted photovoltaics, but with further development in this field this difference could be made smaller.