Agrivoltaics - Integrating Solar Energy and Agriculture for a Sustainable Future (presentation)

What is Agrivoltaics

Agriculture + photovoltaics = agrivoltaics

Combines agriculture and solar energy production on the same land, which addresses land-use competition between food and renewable energy production

Dual-use system allows crops to grown beneath or between solar panels while producing renewable electricity

First developed in Europe and Japan, now expanding worldwide

Why it Matters

Addresses global challenges of food security, energy demand, and climate change

Supports net-zero carbon goals

Aims to enhance sustainability, resilience, and land-use efficiency

Electricity can directly power water pumps, irrigation systems, electric farm machinery, or EV charging

Technical Aspects

Designs include fixed, single-axis, and dual-axis systems

Efficiency depends on solar panel height, tilt angle, shading ratio, and crop type

Integration with smart sensors and AI helps adjust shading and irrigation

Impacts on Farming/Agriculture

Agrivoltaics is seen as an integral part of modern farming

Improved crop yields, income, and land value, as the shade provided by solar panels can protect crops from extreme weather conditions

Less than 1% of Canadian farmland could supply 25% of national electricity demand

Provides farmers with a second income stream from electricity

Encourages energy independence for farming communities

Environmental Impacts

Lower carbon emissions and fossil fuel use, 69% lower GHG emissions, 83% less fossil fuel use

Reduces land-use conflict between solar energy and agriculture

Helps in microclimate regulation, less soil evaporation means reduced heat stress and reduced erosion, also cooler soil and better water retention/water use efficiency

Increased biodiversity potential

Economic and Social Impacts

Encourages rural development through renewable energy jobs

Social acceptance is high when both farming and energy production coexist

Requires policy support and community acceptance for large-scale adoption

Challenges

Higher upfront capital costs for agrivoltaic systems compared to conventional/solar farms

Requires agricultural retraining

Economic feasibility depends on local policies and electricity prices

Future of Agrivoltaics

Growing interest in smart agrivoltaics (AI, sensors, and automation)

Integration with battery storage and electric farm machinery

Essential for achieving Canada's net-zero by 2050 targets

Predicted to grow to a $9.3 billion market by 2031