What is agriculture photovoltaic?

Agriculture photovoltaic refers to a system that allows for both solar based electricity generation and agricultural use of the same area of land. It is also known as solar photovoltaic for sustainable agriculture and rural development. Plants and crop growth can be sustained even though the land is filled with solar panels.

Can photovoltaic systems be combined with agricultural production?

The concept of combining photovoltaic systems with agricultural production known as agrivoltaic systems (AVS) was initially proposed by Goetzberger & Zastrow back in 1982; however, it is rarely discussed until the beginning of the new millennium.

What is the concept of agrivoltaic system?

What is the concept? Agrivoltaic systems cover crops with photovoltaic panels and share the sunlight for co-production of food and electricity on the same piece of land . Other denominations include agrivoltaics , agrophotovoltaic and agri-PVi.

Can PV systems be integrated with agriculture production?

Integration of PV systems with agriculture production could be one of the sustainable approaches by employing improved land productivity. This can eradicate the growing land use competition and astonishing demand for energy and food in a country. Thus, ‘APV’ indicates that by sharing the same land and light, energy and food both can be produced.

How Agrivoltaics work?

There are various actors to be considered in the implementation of agrivoltaics. They can be distinguished based on four functions: (1) providing the land (ownership); (2) agricultural management of the land; (3) providing agrivoltaic systems (ownership/investment); and (4) operating the PV system.

What are the requirements for agrivoltaic systems?

It must be guaranteed that the simultaneous prioritized agricultural production of the land remains possible during the lifetime of the agrivoltaic system. The loss of land due to an agrivoltaic system must not exceed 10% of the total project area for category I and 15% for category II.