Agrivoltaics: Are Vertical Panels Paving the Way for Communities, Solar, and Farming to Coexist?
Combining urban farming with solar energy may hold the key to unlocking a new era of sustainable living. Although the idea has long existed, it has been difficult to implement widely because of technological limitations. Recent developments are changing this dynamic to maximize food and energy production in the same location.
When people have to choose between installing solar panels or cultivating crops, advanced agrivoltaics may bring balance and facilitate seamless coexistence. This transformative collaboration may also prove vital in addressing the agriculture industry’s massive carbon footprint while meeting increasing demand from a growing population.
What Is Agrivoltaics?
Agrivoltaics is the simultaneous use of land for agriculture and electricity generation. The concept dates back to the 1980s as a method of installing solar generators on farmlands or grazing land.
This approach is promising as a solution to agricultural, energy and environmental challenges. By enabling the installation of photovoltaic (PV) panels across agricultural facilities, agrivoltaics helps farms meet their energy demands to ensure food security while contributing to the industry’s decarbonization.
It is a particularly welcome development in the U.S., where food production accounts for up to 16% of total energy use, much of which comes from fossil fuels.
The Problem With Conventional Solar Installations
Achieving the harmonious relationship between soil, plants, livestock, and solar power generation takes careful consideration, mainly because of the cost and inherent limitations of traditional installations.
First, PV panels require extensive land space to create a clean energy source large enough to power agricultural and associated supply chain operations. Meeting food demands sits higher on the priority list than renewable energy regarding terrain use allocation — more than half the U.S. land base is for agricultural production.
Crops and solar generators also compete for sunlight. Most PV panels come in wide horizontal designs to capture as much sunlight as possible during the day. This creates large swathes of shade across farmlands.
Lastly, the bulky nature of the structures meant limited agility in the panel’s orientation throughout the day. This inefficiency can significantly reduce total output, making it more difficult to justify the massive initial capital investment required.
The Rise of Vertical Agrivoltaics
Vertical agrivoltaics systems are similar to regular solar panels, but instead of lying flat or at an inclined angle, they stand upright. Picture small billboards lined next to crops, but instead of displaying ads, these systems contain bifacial PV cells to capture energy from both sides.
These devices have emerged as a more efficient and practical way to integrate solar on croplands, especially in countries where the sun doesn’t shine directly overhead due to their distance from the equator. Standing tall, vertical panels can catch sunlight more effectively.
Adaptive Geometry
Agrivoltaics technologies include variable geometry systems that adjust the solar panel configuration dynamically throughout the day. This flexibility allows for a mutually beneficial relationship between the vertical modules and the crops below.
Because they’re generally smaller, they’re easier to rotate into unique inclines to capture solar power without impacting the plants’ supply. The panel orientation can be tailored to the crop’s specific sunlight requirements, providing varying shade and exposure as needed. This adaptive system can also respond automatically to weather changes, protecting plants and the soil underneath during adverse conditions.
Increased Clean Energy Yield
Scientists in the Netherlands published research indicating vertical PV systems can generate 2.5% higher annual energy output than their horizontal counterparts. The study used digital twins for its modeling, allowing the researchers to run countless simulations based on changing weather time series and other environmental data.
When installed on farmlands, these systems can sustain farming operations and supply excess clean energy power to nearby facilities. This would drastically reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower the area’s collective carbon footprint.
Diversified Income for Farmers
The introduction of vertical PV systems helps diversify and boost farmers’ total incomes. Adding renewable energy production to their core activities opens a new revenue stream that will likely continue to grow as the demand for low-carbon electricity increases.
Agrivoltaics facilitate multiple economic activities in the same area, which can provide some financial stability in a market increasingly subject to fluctuations. It can also improve resilience in the face of dwindling crop yields from climate change.
Enhanced Production
Vertical solar panels’ controlled environment and dynamic nature can be incredibly transformative for greenhouse farming. Reports show greenhouses can produce 10 times more food than growing in an open field.
However, this also increases the power demand by 10 times. Agrivoltaics can address this requirement by generating clean energy on-site and improving food security.
Solar Panels and Crops Can Coexist, But What About Communities?
Agrivoltaics exists to benefit communities, so coexistence shouldn’t be a concern, but rapid urbanization introduces a consideration with land use. The U.N. estimates 5 billion people will live in cities and towns by 2030, so considerations must be made regarding where they will reside.
Installing vertical PV panels across farmlands in urban areas reduces the land footprint compared to traditional farming. By providing a system to combine two equally essential operations in the same location, agrivoltaics can save ground space for other necessary infrastructure like housing and essential services.
This solution is particularly suitable for regions like California, where 350,000 acres of agricultural land have been lost to urbanization since 1990. As the state accommodates more residents, an estimated 2 million acres of food production capacity will be gone by 2050.
Vertical PV systems also enable increased local food production compared to horizontal systems, boosting self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on distant rural farming facilities. This modern approach shortens the city-wide supply chain and gives residents access to fresher produce.
These technologies also facilitate sustainable electricity supply to power homes and businesses for cheaper while improving economic efficiency. For instance, agrivoltaics systems installed in China have helped regulate water temperatures for fish farming and substantially increase shrimp and sea cucumber production.
Community Engagement
Vertical solar panels on farmlands can revitalize urban areas by providing a vital public engagement and education hub. These spaces can host school visits, workshops and community events, promoting eco-consciousness and inspiring residents to contribute to the transition to greener lifestyles.
Agrivoltaics Allow Communities, Solar, and Farming to Coexist
The future outlook for agrivoltaics is optimistic. By leveraging underutilized spaces, vertical panels bring about a new era of farming, energy generation, and community interactions within city landscapes. They represent a crucial turning point for how cities can tackle food security and sustainable power in the face of climbing urbanization rates.
As these systems become more widespread, they will shape tomorrow’s sustainable cities and serve as a blueprint for urban resilience.