Environmental Benefits and Market Potential of Agrivoltaics: The Symbiotic Relationship of Sustainable Agriculture and the Energy Transition

Abstract

Traditional renewable energy is often faulted for its extensive land requirements. In most cases, solar and wind energy replaces farmland and faces opposition from local community members frustrated with the loss of their farming culture and livelihoods. Agrivoltaics can provide a unique solution to this challenge, combining renewable energy production with continued farming. Thus far, agrivolatics has only generated strong policy support and commercial viability in areas that are land constrained and have protections to maintain farmland. This paper explores pathways for agrivolatics to become more widely deployed by 1) exploring case studies of successful agrivoltaic deployments, 2) evaluating how these learnings can be expanded to other regions, and 3) proposing mechanisms to support the transition to sustainable agriculture through agrivoltaics.