Knowns, uncertainties, and challenges in agrivoltaics to sustainably intensify energy and food production

Authors: GOMEZ-CASANOVAS, NURIA - Texas A&M University; MWEBAZE, PAUL - University Of Illinois; KHANNA, MADHU - University Of Illinois; BRANHAM, BRUCE - University Of Illinois; TIME, ALSON - University Of Illinois; DELUCIA, EVAN - University Of Illinois; Bernacchi, Carl; KNAPP, ALAN - Colorado State University; HOQUE, M - University Of Illinois; DU, X - University Of Illinois

Submitted to: Cell Reports Physical Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/26/2023
Publication Date: 8/16/2023
Citation: Gomez-Casanovas, N., Mwebaze, P., Khanna, M., Branham, B., Time, A., DeLucia, E.H., Bernacchi, C.J., Knapp, A., Hoque, M.J., Du, X., et al. 2023. Knowns, uncertainties, and challenges in agrivoltaics to sustainably intensify energy and food production. Cell Reports Physical Science. 4(8). Article 101518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrp.2023.101518.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrp.2023.101518

Interpretive Summary: Alternative energy sources are a necessary step toward avoiding the worst-case global change scenarios. Part of the solution to achieving alternative energy sources is the establishment of solar panel facilities for the clean generation of electricity. However, solar panel facilities are very land-use intensive and as currently designed they do not allow for other possible land uses. A solution is an agricultural and solar panel hybrid, referred to as agrivoltaics, which blends solar panels and agriculture together to provide multiple land use opportunities. This concept is relatively new, and as a result there are many uncertainties and challenges associated with the establishment and expansion of agrivoltaics. This manuscript provides a review of the knowns, unknowns, and challenges to inform both researchers and policy makers on the potential opportunities and pitfalls of expanding this dual-use agricultural system.

Technical Abstract: Harnessing solar energy to renewably produce electricity can contribute to climate mitigation while meeting current energy demands. However, utility-scale photovoltaics (PV) are land intensive and can compete with food production. Agrivoltaics (AV), an emerging technology that combines both energy and food production, has the potential to reduce competition for land. However, its benefits remain highly uncertain. Here, we review the literature to assess the potential of AV to provide synergistic benefits across the food-energy-water nexus relative to PV or conventional agriculture systems alone. We find that: (1) AV can enhance land productivity (by up to 60%) through synergistic increases in energy, plant and animal production; however, a mechanistic understanding of how PV technologies and plant selection affect land productivity across a wide range of environments – with diverse climate, soil conditions and management – is lacking. (2) AV can mitigate the PV heat island effect and increase water savings. (3) AV can enhance soil organic carbon and biodiversity, but more research is needed to better understand the influence of AV on these key ecosystem metrics and impacts on greenhouse gas emissions and biophysical processes, and to represent AV in models for accurate assessments of climatic feedbacks. (4) AV deployment is more costly but improved productivity, and environmental and ecological benefits as well as diversified income could increase economic returns above those of PV; however, a framework for evaluating the economics of AV as well as studies on social perception are needed. (5) AV could increase the resilience of our food and energy systems to climate change – droughts and warming – . (6) Strategic management and technological and bioengineering innovations can enhance the benefits of AV compared to PV or agricultural systems alone. Overall, AV has the potential to enhance the sustainability of agricultural land while helping to meet energy and food demands. We aim to open interdisciplinary collaborative discussions to gain a holistic understanding of the ecological, environmental, and socio-economic consequences of AV, and to realize how new innovations can unravel the potential of this emerging strategy.