Are solar panels good for crop protection?

Partial shading of crops by PV panels leads to some yield losses, but may provide synergistic benefits, including crop protection from extreme weather conditions such as hail, frost, snow, and sunburn. PV panels can also reduce the system heat stress due to better convective cooling, reduced evapotranspiration, and rainwater collection.

What is crop selection & PV design for agrivoltaics?

Crop selection and PV design for agrivoltaics require synonymous optimization. The increasing global population amplifies the demand for food and energy. Meeting these demands should be a priority and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Photovoltaic (PV) systems are one of the key technologies for a sustainable energy transition.

Can photovoltaics be used in agriculture?

The incorporation of photovoltaics (PV) into agriculture has drawn significant interest recently to address increased food insecurity and energy demand 1. Agrivoltaics is the utilization of sunlight for both plant production and solar energy harvesting 2, 3.

What is horticulture agrivoltaics?

Horticulture Agrivoltaics has significant synergies with specialty crops, specifically wine cultivation and orchards. The main reason is the high-value creation of these crops and the need for protective measures to cultivate them .

Are agrivoltaics sustainable?

Agrivoltaics (APV) combine crops with solar photovoltaics (PV) on the same land area to provide sustainability benefits across land, energy and water systems (Parkinson and Hunt in Environ Sci Technol Lett 7:525–531, 2020).

What is agrivoltaic production?

Agrivoltaic Production An AV system, often referred to as “agrivoltaics”, “Agri-PV”, “Agro-PV”, “agri-solar”, “solar sharing” or “pollinator-friendly solar”, depending on the area and specific use , can be defined as a technology or management that aims to use land for agricultural (or livestock) purposes and simultaneously generate PV energy.