From Classroom to Cropland: Educational Training Model for Advancing AgriVoltaic Implementation

Abstract

This study presents the development and implementation of an inaugural training program to support the adoption of AgriVoltaic Systems (AVS) and discusses its educational structure, pedagogical approach, and initial lessons learned from its implementation with smallholder farmers in the Brazilian Amazon. Conducted with the CCampo Cooperative and supported by German Cooperative and Raiffeisen Confederation (DGRV) and Organization of Brazil's Cooperatives (OCB), the course was delivered by researchers from the Solar Energy Laboratory Fotovoltaica from Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). It integrated photovoltaic (PV) system concepts with sustainable agricultural practices. The two-day program combined theoretical instruction and practical field-based learning, tailored to the socio-technical context of farmers in Santarém, Pará. The curriculum addressed six core topics: PV fundamentals, AVS concepts, cooperative energy models, planting layout design, system monitoring and maintenance, and agriculture integrated with PV systems. Beyond technical training, the program fostered social acceptance and community engagement. Participants gained autonomy and expressed a strong interest in PV-powered irrigation and water pumping. The training culminated in the installation of a demonstration AVS site, where peppers, coriander, and spring onions were planted under PV modules following agroforestry principles. The outcomes indicate that locally adapted educational models can effectively empower rural communities to engage with AVS technologies. This approach emphasizes the role of education and cooperative development in advancing food security, renewable energy access, and sustainable land use. The model offers a replicable strategy for other underserved regions.