The AgriVoltaics Conference Proceedings cover the proceedings of the international AgriVoltaics World Conferences, taking place annually.
TIB Open Publishing (Technische Informationsbibliothek (TIB))
Sheep Grazing Impacts on Soil Health and Pasture Quality at Commercial Solar Sites in Northeastern USA
As solar sheep grazing continues to gain traction, it is important to emphasize soil health and pasture quality. Therefore, this study was performed to collect in-field data from 28 grazed and 3 non-grazed commercial solar sites to determine how grazing influences solar site health, associated ecosystem health, forage nutritive quality, and pasture conditions at Northeastern United States of America solar sites from 2022-2024. The majority of the selected sites were previously cropland. Construction of sites was between 2015-2020 with local graziers later joining the operation to create agrivoltaic systems. Sites were selected by their ability to contribute to the knowledge base over the duration of the study, provide relevant information about innovative co-location strategies and the willingness of all parties involved in the solar site maintenance to share information. Solar grazed sites tended to (p=0.06) have higher soil organic matter than non-grazed sites, with values of 4.14% and 3.70% respectively. Soil pH was significantly higher (p=0.01) in grazed sites, with an average of 6.20 compared to 5.81 in non-grazed sites, demonstrating the potential for solar grazing to improve solar site soil health. Crude protein was consistently significantly higher (p<0.001) in under panel areas for all seasons and years, while better digestibility was seen in under panel areas in Fall 2023. While not statistically significant (p=0.07), pasture condition scores increased between 2022 and 2023, suggesting that sheep grazing may have the potential to improve solar site pasture quality over time. Overall, solar sheep grazing helps to create a beneficial dual-use environment.
Copyright (c) 2025 Alyssa Andrew, Lexie Hain, Jonathan Barter, Zachary Goldberg, Allison Desario, Kevin Antoszewski, Alissa White, Caro Roszell https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Ensuring That Dual-Use Means Multi-Value: A Framework for the Co-Prioritization of Cattle Grazing and PV Energy Generation
Photovoltaics (PV) is the fastest growing portion of the energy sector and the lowest-cost form of renewable energy today. PV development will continue to accelerate as the world strives to meet climate goals and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The need for open, sun-abundant landscapes puts the solar (PV) industry in competition for land with agriculture and threatens intact native rangeland, stimulating valid concerns about negative impacts to ecological processes and function, such as soil stability, nutrient cycling, water cycling, and biodiversity. The co-location of PV energy generation and agriculture, commonly referred to as agrivoltaics, and specifically livestock grazing, offers a win-win scenario. While sheep grazing is being broadly employed, there is increasing interest in cattle grazing on PV projects. Our research seeks to understand if we can co-optimize cattle grazing and PV energy generation by designing and managing Solar Savannas, where ecological processes, capture of solar energy, and animal health and agricultural performance are equally prioritized. This is not only a question of dual-use but of multi-value. For agrivoltaics to be a meaningful sustainability solution, we hypothesize that dual-use must provide multiple values, including ecosystem service provision, agricultural production, and PV energy generation, bolstering community relationships and social and economic viability. We are engaged in ongoing research to ensure and measure this multi-value system, building ecological, agricultural, and financial models. What we learn from the modeling of this multi-value approach to eco-agri-energy systems is intended to eliminate tradeoffs of either-or systems, reduce barriers to dual-use systems, and finally, promote holistic solutions for the integration of multi-value systems. The purpose of this paper is to present a novel foundational framework, the Solar Savanna, and establish a theoretical basis for research and agrivoltaics practices.
Copyright (c) 2025 Nick de Vries, Anna Clare Monlezun https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Grain Yield, Quality, and Net Photosynthesis When Grown Under Semi-Transparent Cadmium Telluride Photovoltaic Modules Near Maturity
Semi-transparent cadmium telluride (ST-CdTe) photovoltaic (PV) technology is based on the use of CdTe in a thin film (2-8µm) to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity. The thin film is deposited onto clear glass and can be custom abraded to produce ST-CdTe PV modules of a desired transparency level (e.g. 50% full sun/50% transparency) making it an intriguing option for agrivoltaics (AV) applications. Recent improvements in ST-CdTe PV technology have matched the efficiency of crystalline silicon (c-Si) PV with the levelized cost of energy production far lower than conventional gas, coal, and nuclear generation [1]. A field experiment was conducted whereby ST-CdTe PV modules of two transparency levels (20% and 50%) and a full sun control (100% transparency) were temporarily installed in a RCBD with three replicates over winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants after anthesis and until harvest. The average net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of the full sun control was significantly higher than the 20% ST-CdTe PV module, but not different from the 50% transparency module. Measured factors for yield and protein content were statistically insignificant, except for wheat head number, which was significantly higher under 50% ST-CdTe PV than both the 20% ST-CdTe and full sun control. These results provide evidence that ST-CdTe PV module technology can provide renewable energy while balancing wheat yield potential and grain quality. The ability to adjust the transparency levels of the modules make ST-CdTe another PV technology option to consider for AV applications.
Copyright (c) 2025 Jane Davey, Dewanshi Kumari, Mark E. Uchanski https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Luminescent Solar Concentrator Greenhouses for Concurrent Energy Generation and Lettuce Production in the United States
Meeting the needs for both renewable energy production and increased food supply to sustain growing communities remains a global challenge. Agrivoltaic greenhouses can meet these dual needs in one plot of land, mitigating land competition. Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) benefit these systems by providing additional design flexibility for crop-specific spectrum modification while allowing sufficient light transmission for crop growth. Silicon quantum dots (Si QDs) have received growing interest as a material candidate for LSC greenhouses as well. We present an investigation into the impact of Si QD film concentration on the energy demands of an LSC greenhouse in Phoenix, Arizona through a comprehensive modelling framework. We then expand upon one Si QD concentration and simulate LSC greenhouses in 48 locations across the United States. We demonstrate LSC greenhouses can supply their annual energy demands in warm climates, where greenhouse heating demands remain low. LSC greenhouses can also be as profitable as the conventional glass greenhouse if the crop yield remains comparable or if the greenhouse can benefit from net metering.
Copyright (c) 2025 Kristine Loh, Kale Harbick, Nathan Eylands, Uwe Kortshagen, Vivian Ferry https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Experimental Study of a Novel Semi-Transparent Bi-Facial Agri-Voltaic System: Initial Results
Solar (photovoltaic)-agriculture practices have experienced notable progress across several countries over the past few decades, creating a field widely known as agrivoltaics. This co-location practice has proved effective for certain crops that prefer partial shade like tomatoes, lettuce, and peppers, although it is less effective for crops needing more sun. Availability of natural sunlight with a specific spectral signature is necessary for agricultural practices as many plant species require an optimum-level and quality of sunlight for photosynthesis. The goal of this work is to model and validate ground-level irradiance for a semi-transparent bifacial solar collector equipped with a custom spectral reflector. By introducing intentional gaps between opaque solar cells, we hope to allow 50% of visible light to pass through the module. Additionally, this technology could reduce the soil temperature by 2° C, improve moisture retention, and enhance yield by providing partial solar radiation. In our model, we can calculate the total solar irradiance for the plants as a function of the cell distribution, material absorption, height of the panel and time of year with a spatial resolution of 0.0625 m2. When comparing theoretical estimates to experimental measurements of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), we find a discrepancy of 32-48%, and a discrepancy of 19-38% after correction with TMY data.
Copyright (c) 2025 Duncan McGraw, Tonny Nyonga, Laura Green, Peter Vorobieff, David Hanson, Gowtham Mohan, Tito Busani https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Potential of Spectrum Splitting Technology on Soybean Physiology, Quality, and Yield
Agricultural photovoltaic (APV) systems that integrate farming activities with energy production on the same farmland face challenges due to shadowing effects caused by elevated photovoltaic (PV) panels, which hinder the spectrum necessary for photosynthesis. Spectrum splitting technology (SST) has emerged as a potential solution to balance the spectrum required for photosynthesis and PV energy generation. This study aims to investigate SST's potential in enhancing soybean physiology, quality, and yield. Four treatments were implemented: soybeans planted under a glass shed covered with multilayer film (GMF), glass shed (GS), in open-air (CK), and spectrum splitting and concentrated APV (SCAPV). Results demonstrated notable improvements in soybean physiology, quality, and yield. GMF and SCAPV treatments exhibited increased soluble sugar content by 13.5% and 4.1% compared to CK. Furthermore, GMF and SCAPV treatments showed increased oleic acid content by 5.1% and 2.1%, respectively, compared to CK. Fresh weight of grain and leaves of soybeans increased by 24.7% and 4.1% in GMF and SCAPV treatments compared to CK. At the same time, GS treatment decreased by 14.4% compared to CK. Utilization of SST in GMF and SCAPV systems presents a promising avenue to optimize soybean cultivation, improving soybean yield and quality. This study highlights the potential of SST as a solution for integrating APV systems with crop cultivation and production, leading to enhanced crop physiology, increased yield, and improved quality.
Copyright (c) 2025 Altyeb Ali Abaker Omer, Wen Liu, Ming Li, Xinyu Zhang, Fangxin Zhang, Juan Liu https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
South-Oriented PV Trackers: A Solution for Tree Plantations?
Single-axis trackers in AgriVoltaics (APV) systems traditionally face East-West (E-W) to track the sun's path. This study investigates the viability of North-South (N-S) oriented trackers for optimising irradiance distribution in tree plantations. Using a modelling framework and meteorological data from Aix-en-Provence, France, we demonstrate that N-S trackers create distinct shading patterns on the ground that shift throughout the year due to varying solar zenith angles. By strategically positioning photovoltaic (PV) panels relative to tree canopies, our simulations show potential for minimising shading on sun-loving crops like apricot trees, crucial for maintaining photosynthesis levels. We propose innovative tracking algorithms to mitigate shading effects during different seasons, preserving both electrical output and agricultural productivity. Our simulations indicate that N-S trackers offer comparable electricity production to E-W configurations in sun-tracking mode and outperform fixed arrays-oriented South, with minimal losses in irradiance during critical growth periods. Additionally, N-S trackers show promise in reducing soil evaporation, which could enhance water balance in agricultural settings. Future research employing 3D modelling and integrated PV-crop simulations is recommended to optimise design parameters and assess the Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) for further validation.
Copyright (c) 2025 Jean-Baptiste Pasquier , Jules Chéron, Farida Amichi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Equity and Justice Implications for the Development and Deployment of Agrivoltaics Systems
This paper addresses the equity and justice issues that are directly related to agrivoltaics, largely through the lens of farmers and other rural stakeholders, but also to some extent through the eyes of commercial developers. Though clearly different in nature, both small-scale and utility-scale projects must address the equity and justice concerns of stakeholder communities in order to be successful. Further, while the ideas and principles discussed here are mostly U.S.-centric, they still apply to similar settings around the globe. The paper first reviews the concept of energy justice, drawing a distinction between justice and equity. It then moves on to the ways in which equity and justice are more specifically realized in agrivoltaics applications. Some of the main equity and justice issues are identified, particularly as they constitute barriers (real or perceived) that detract from more rapid adoption and deployment of agrivoltaics technology. In addition, the paper considers the differences in equity and justice associated with non-rural agrivoltaics applications; and it concludes with some general principles that should be followed to ensure the development and deployment of this emerging technology achieves overall success.
Copyright (c) 2025 Timothy Coburn, Steven Conrad, Thomas Bradley, Alexander Lynch, Isabella Amyx https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
“Return to the Future” With a Systemic Agrivoltaic Strategy
This paper examines a rural regeneration project combining a utility-scale agrivoltaic system with an innovative agricultural system involving intercropping olive trees with fodder, medicinal and melliferous crops. The resulting project serves as a potential best practice in the Mediterranean region, particularly in Puglia, southern Italy, where olive groves have been severely affected by a plant disease caused by the quarantine bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. The study takes an integrated approach, covering several design dimensions, including agricultural, environmental, ecological, energy, social, economic, and architectural considerations. The proposal to restore the abandoned rural village of Monteruga and revive its vibrant rural economy seems to be a coherent strategy of "going back to the future." The agrivoltaic system is integrated with other relevant components to promote multifunctional development and social innovation by leveraging the production and sale of renewable energy. The agrivoltaic facility's temporary reinforcing action would boost an innovative rural development process, providing an appropriate regenerative response to the catastrophic effects of desiccation and uprooting of olive groves caused by Xylella. Rural regeneration is urgently needed and can be supported by optimized, specifically designed agrivoltaic systems, among other things. A transition period of at least 20 years is required for the associated agricultural system to become self-sustaining, with the option of replacing the agrivoltaic system entirely.
Copyright (c) 2025 Elisa Gatto, Leonardo Beccarisi, Barnaba Marinosci, Caterina Polito, Cristiano Tamborrino, Arcangelo Taddeo, Massimo Monteleone https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Lessons Learned from Three Agrivoltaic Installations in New Jersey
Agrivoltaics is a new technology that has the potential to positively impact commercial farming by combining agricultural practices with the generation of solar energy. While some yield reduction is to be expected, resulting from less sunlight reaching the plant canopy and ground occupied by support structures, the generated electricity provides a low-risk supplemental income to farmers. In order to combine farming with electricity generation, agrivoltaic systems use a lower ground coverage ratio compared to normal solar farms and the PV panels are often mounted higher above the ground in order to facilitate the movement of agricultural equipment and to reduce the contrast between shaded and non-shaded areas. With funding provided from the state of New Jersey and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES), we designed and installed three unique agrivoltaic research systems at Rutgers/NJAES farms. These projects were recently completed and are generating electricity that is exported to the grid. This paper discusses the lessons we have learned along the way, including all the steps necessary to see an agrivoltaic project through to completion.
Copyright (c) 2025 A.J. Both, Bill Bamka, Thierry Besancon, Dunbar Birnie, Clint Burgher, Daniel Gimenez, Serpil Guran, Michael Kornitas, Pete Nitzsche, David Robinson, W. Ross Rucker, Ethan Schoolman, David Specca, Kevin Sullivan, Daniel Ward, Mike Westendorf, Christian Wyenandt https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Agricultural Practices Appropriate for Agrivoltaics
In striving toward a target of 100% renewable electricity generation by 2030 as part of wider global concerns of climate change and the integral role that energy production plays within this, Aotearoa New Zealand will have to mitigate the increased strain on available land resources and look toward multi-use land initiatives in the uptake of utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) generation. Agrivoltaic systems, integrating PV arrays with agricultural production, have been defined and tested internationally and offer a solution to Aotearoa New Zealand in dealing with over-allocation of limited land resources, where 42% of the total land area, or over 11 million hectares, are already dedicated to agriculture. Owing to the relatively recent advancements in the technologies and prerequisites for agrivoltaic systems, as well as diverse agricultural practices and systems worldwide, agrivoltaics require customized guidelines for each specific location where they are introduced. The German DIN SPEC 91434 is an example of such a guideline. The goal of this research is to contribute to the development of a guideline for Aotearoa New Zealand. This guideline will look to understand key agrivoltaic technologies and configurations as they pertain to certain crop types and agricultural practices, aligning these with the key agricultural sectors and crop types within the country, then looking to how agrivoltaics can further integrate with the sector goals. The guideline definitions will flow into a matrix tool for the farming community wishing to implement agrivoltaic systems, streamlining the process in which such systems can be implemented in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Copyright (c) 2025 Juan Cabrera Pirela, Alan Brent https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Agrivoltaics in Norway: Microclimate Modelling and Grass Yields from the Highest Latitude Agrivoltaics System
Agrivoltaics, also known as solar sharing or agri-PV, represents a pioneering con- cept that seeks to optimise land use by combining agriculture with photovoltaics on the same land area. While research and development on this topic have increased significantly, few studies address the issue in the Continental Subarctic Climate zone. In this paper, we report on the modelling and installation of a 48 kWp agrivoltaic system at the Skjetlein High School in Trondheim (Norway, lat. 63.34), which is currently the highest latitude system in the World, and we present the initial results of the impacts of the system on Timothy grass biomass. This work takes the first steps towards realising agrivoltaic opportunities for a broad area of Norwegian agriculture.
Copyright (c) 2025 Marisa Di Sabatino, Richard Randle-Boggis, Ronald Reagon Ravi Kumar, Harry Malhi, Gabriele Lobaccaro, Helge Bonesmo, Ashok Sharma, Steve Völler, Gaute Stokkan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Integral Design of an Agrivoltaics Research System in Northern Minas Gerais, Brazil
This study aims to derive conceptual agrivoltaic (AV) designs for the first AV research pilot in Minas Gerais Brazil by applying a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) based evaluation method. A selected AV design is assessed regarding its shading characteristics in various scenarios using raytracing algorithms in Python based on the Solstice software. The proposed Elevated AV system demonstrates the best performance respecting the project specific objectives. For the respective design we vary row distances in three scenarios, enabling regression analysis to relate the annual average shading rate to the row pitch. The analysis reveals that for a 30% shading rate, a 3.2 m row distance is required, which is finally recommended to respect the rather sun-loving crop types. Through a border effect analysis, we conclude the necessity of implementing a total AV pilot area of approximately 700 m² to conduct agricultural experiments on 300 m² without edge effects. In general, we highlight the importance of precise AV system design for optimizing agricultural and photovoltaic (PV) performance.
Copyright (c) 2025 Frederik Schönberger, Ana Valentina Puentes, David Jung, Polyanna Mara de Oliveira https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Feasibility of AgriVoltaic Wheat Farming with Standard-Height, Utility-Scale Tracking Systems
This research focuses on AgriVoltaic systems, combining standard-height (1.5 meters) PV arrays with single-axis solar trackers for wheat cultivation. The study was conducted in Sorocaba/São Paulo, at the Nextracker Solar Study Laboratory situated at Flextronics Institute of Technology (FIT). This study reveals that wheat production between PV rows is minimally affected by shading. In the 2023 winter wheat season in Brazil, the production in Regular Agriculture was 12.04 ± 4.27 tons/ha. In the AgriVoltaics area, it produced 10.72 ± 1.52 tons/ha of wheat in addition to 2354.82kWh/kWp-year. In the area dedicated to energy production, it generated a performance of 2462.26kWh/kWp-year. Statistically, using the Tukey’s test, it is possible to state that there is no difference in productivity, although there are differences in morphological and physiological performance, issues that should be better explored in future studies. Furthermore, AgriVoltaics systems observed a 40% reduction in irrigation requirements, making it economically feasible for both energy providers and local farming economies. So, this study demonstrates successful integration of cost-effective PV trackers, offering potential for large-scale co-production of food and renewable energy.
Copyright (c) 2025 Milena Chanes de Souza, Ricardo Nery de Castro, Benhur Azambuja Possato, Matthias B. Krause, Sol Hutson https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Legislation on Agrivoltaics in Germany: Changes and Complements Towards a Comprehensive Legal Framework
Following the authors’ two contributions “Legal Framework of Agrivoltaics in Germany” [1] and “New Legal Framework of Agrivoltaics in Germany” [2] in previous proceedings of the AgriVoltaics conference series, this study summarizes changes of and complements to the legal framework for agrivoltaics in Germany that have been implemented after April 2023. The changes and complements relate to the public and energy law and represent major and important improvements for agrivoltaics towards a comprehensive legislation. In the public law, a new legislation on building permits privileges small agrivoltaic facilities leading to an easier and faster permitting procedure compared to those of larger facilities. In the energy law, a new amendment to the Renewable Energy Act (German: Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz, EEG) provides more attractive feed-in tariffs for certain agrivoltaic systems. Also, the amendment includes a mandatory level of ecosystem services provisions for conventional ground-mounted photovoltaic systems (GMPV), hence, levering the ecologic potential of a dual land use with PV systems. Finally, the authors present the new German pre-standard DIN 91492 that specifies requirements for agrivoltaics with animal husbandry which might provide a definition for legislators in Germany they can refer to. While the adjustments to the legal framework represent important steps towards a broad market entry of agrivoltaics, challenges remain a sufficiently differentiated framework that considers the specific cost and synergies of the respective agricultural application areas.
Copyright (c) 2025 Max Trommsdorff, Jens Vollprecht, Till Sterzenbach https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment Framework for Agrivoltaic Systems
This paper suggests a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) framework for agrivoltaic systems - systems that integrate photovoltaic energy and agricultural production. Agrivoltaics proposes a solution that provides additional land for meeting renewable energy goals while supporting agricultural production and water and land use efficiency. This study contributes to the assessment of the dynamic life cycle improvements associated with agrivoltaics installations through applying the framework to a case study at Jack's Solar Garden in Boulder, Colorado. We utilize the ReCIPe midpoint hierarchist method and leverage data from existing OpenLCA databases to evaluate the environmental and economic impacts of co-located crop production and solar energy generation. The results highlight the potential for reduced land and water use, underscoring agrivoltaics' role in managing land conflicts and water scarce environments. However, challenges such as increased material demands, limited open-source data, and the need for tailored configurations remain. Our framework aims to guide researchers, producers, and policymakers in making informed decisions on the adoption of agrivoltaics.
Copyright (c) 2025 Katelyn Whiting, Steven Conrad, Thomas Bradley, Tim Coburn https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Effects of Dynamic Agrivoltaics on Containerized Raspberry Plants: Results of the First Season
Raspberries need to be protected from various stresses (radiative, thermal, hydric), and the Sun'Agri dynamic agrivoltaic system (DAV) could be a more sustainable solution than the plastic tunnels currently in use. Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR) started a three-year experiment in 2023 to compare a dynamic agrivoltaic system (combined with insect proof nets) with a plastic tunnel serving as a control (CTL) in Dardilly (France) using ‘Kwanza’ rasp-berry containerized plants. The first year of experimentation revealed similar cumulative daily light integral between the two treatments over the growing season despite different patterns within the day. The protection from the DAV reduced mean air temperature by 1.8°C and increased mean relative humidity by 7.3% in comparison to the CTL. That improvement in the micro-environment was even more pronounced in the container substrate temperature. Daily maximum substrate temperatures were reduced by 5°C. The number of days reaching 35°C, that is considered deleterious for raspberries, was observed only four days in the DAV treat-ment versus 27 days in the CTL treatment. The less stressful micro-environment in the DAV was associated with water savings of 41%, increases in marketable yields and fruit weight of 32% and 39%, respectively. Satisfactory fruit quality was observed for both treatments. Two additional years of research will be performed to have a better understanding of raspberry performance cultivated in DAV.
Copyright (c) 2025 Perrine Juillion, Candice Tranchant, Kaoutar Nadi, Jimmy Noel, Benoit Valle, Jérôme Chopard, Gerardo Lopez, Camille Crevat, Xavier Bunker, Damien Fumey https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Sun Protection for Fruit: Dynamic Agrivoltaics Reduces Apple Temperature and Sunburn Damage
Heatwaves are a risk to fruit tree yield and production. In this study, a dynamic agrivoltaic system was tested as a solution to protect trees from high temperatures by shading the fruits when irradiance and air temperature peak at their maximum values. The study was completed in an apple dynamic agrivoltaic system in France in 2022 and 2023. The agrivoltaic system was compared to a control without solar panels. The study was initiated in 2022 with measurements of microclimate (incident solar radiation and air temperature) and sunburn damage. In 2023, these measures were complemented with detailed measurements of fruit surface temperature and fruit growth. In 2023, fruit surface temperature was continuously measured for two control and two agrivoltaic trees using type T thermocouples (12 apples per treatment). Fruit diameter of 18 tagged fruit per treatment was monitored weekly. Air temperature at the agrivoltaic trees was lower compared to control trees due to a reduction of 50% in daily incident radiation. Sunburn damage was reduced for agrivoltaic apples in 2022 (control 13% vs. agrivoltaics 2%). In 2023, although there were low sunburn values for both the control and agrivoltaic apples, it was found that agrivoltaic apples were cooler than control apples. The maximal fruit surface temperature reduction during the study was 3.3 °C. Fruit diameter was the same across treatments. Dynamic agrivoltaic systems can be used to reduce apple fruit surface temperature and minimize the risk of sunburn when trees are shaded during periods of high irradiance and temperature.
Copyright (c) 2025 Gerardo Lopez, Andrei Pasquali, Vincent Hitte, Vincent Lesniak, Milan Bregeon, Séverine Persello, Perrine Juillion, Jérôme Chopard, Damien Fumey https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Impact of Photovoltaic on Permanent Grassland Composition and Productivity in Central Italy
Climate change and population growth put a strain on energy and food resources, prompting a shift to renewable energy. The EU is aiming for 40 per cent renewable energy by 2030 and photovoltaic solar systems are expected as the primary source of electricity by 2035. However, the expansion of photovoltaics generates conflicts over land use, especially in agriculture. Agrivoltaic (AV) systems, which integrate photovoltaic panels with agricultural practices, offer a promising solution by providing crops with partial shade, thus potentially mitigating excessive sunlight and reducing water stress. This study evaluates the effects of an AV system on a 70 ha pasture in Ravenna, Italy, examining changes in pasture composition and productivity. In order to identify variations along the shadow gradient, four sampling areas were chosen along the transect perpendicular to the panel row, where plant species were identified and crop biomass sampled throughout the growing season in 2023. The results revealed a dominant presence of Grasses, with percentages of Leguminous ranging from 20 to 40% in less shaded areas, and other species present mainly in shaded areas, particularly in the back edge of the panel. Biomass yield showed considerable variation along the transect, with higher yields near the panels and lower below the central panels. The biomass peaks highlight the role of shading, sunlight and water drainage in production. These results emphasize the critical influence of shading in AV systems, providing insights for optimizing pasture management and crop selection to increase productivity under different light conditions.
Copyright (c) 2025 Michele Moretta, Riccardo Rossi, Gloria Padovan, Nicolina Staglianò, Enrico Palchetti, Marco Bindi, Pietro Elia Campana, Marco Moriondo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Study of Agrivoltaics Peanut Production With Single-Axis Tracking Systems
This study investigates the application of single-axis solar tracking systems in peanut production, a crucial crop for global food security and economic sustainability. The experiment was conducted at the FIT Solar Laboratory in Sorocaba, Brazil, from May to September 2023. Peanut plants were cultivated under two conditions: an Agrivoltaic system with bifacial solar modules with a single axis tracking system, and in a conventional agricultural setup. Key findings indicate that peanut biomass yield under Agrivoltaic systems was 17.02% lower than in traditional agricultural systems, primarily due to shading effects inherent to the dual-use configuration. Despite this reduction, the morpho-physiological parameters of peanut plants, including plant height (31.2 ± 1.5 cm), stem diameter (5.3 ± 0.3 mm), stomatal conductivity (0.24 ± 0.02 mol/m²·s), and chlorophyll index (34.6 ± 2.1 SPAD units), remained stable under the Agrivoltaic system, demonstrating the adaptability of peanut plants to lower light conditions. Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) measurements varied significantly depending on the position under the trackers, with values ranging from 150 to 1,200 µmol/m²·s, reflecting the heterogeneity of light distribution. The Agrivoltaic system achieved an energy production of 2,354.82 kWh/kWp, reflecting a minimal deviation of 4.36% compared to the PV-only control system, which recorded 2,462.26 kWh/kWp. The Energy Performance Index (EPI) for the Agrivoltaic system was calculated at 0.96, demonstrating its efficiency in converting available solar energy under real-world conditions. This performance aligns with industry standards, underscoring the efficiency of single axis tracking systems in balancing agricultural and energy outputs.
A Public-Private Partnership to Develop Agrivoltaics in the US Midwest
The expansion of solar energy at a utility scale in the Midwest of the USA will include land currently being used for farming. This development does not have to remove this land from agricultural use, if agrivoltaic practices are considered. However, there is a lack of data and recommendations for how solar facilities can be used for agricultural purposes. To address this gap, Iowa State University (ISU) and Alliant Energy have entered into a public-private partnership to explore the agronomic, economic and social aspects of agrivoltaic practices. This partnership models future interactions between landowner and utility companies interested in siting solar farms on land currently used for agricultural purposes. In this presentation, we describe how this partnership was developed and led to the construction of a solar farm that can measure both the value of crop production and the impact of understory vegetation on energy production. Through a series of meetings with Alliant Energy representatives and faculty at ISU, a site design was implemented, officially titled the Alliant Energy Solar Farm at Iowa State University. We summarize preliminary results from our initial field season, noting how a common vegetable crop, summer squash, was produced and responded to the conditions at this solar farm.
Copyright (c) 2025 Matthew O'Neal, Nick Petersen, Liang Dong, Hongli Feng, Anne Kimber, Raymond Klein, Ajay Nair, Suzanne Slack, John Tyndall, Hugo Villegas https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Enhancing Olive Production in Mediterranean Agrivoltaic Systems: A Microclimatic Analysis Using Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling
Agrivoltaic Systems (AVs), combining agriculture and solar power generation, represent a sustainable land use method. This research is conducted for the “Borgo Monteruga” agrivoltaic project, located in Southern Italy. The project is characterized by the inter-cropping of high-density olive groves, arranged in hedgerows between solar trackers, with fodder crops on either side or, alternatively, medicinal crops, depending on the soil quality. The park boasts a peak power capacity of 291.33 MWp, achieved through the installation of double-sided 600 W photovoltaic modules and a 50 MW storage system. The novelty of this project lies in the proactive assessment of microclimatic parameters to optimize the AVs layout, aiming to reduce shading on crops and enhance the efficiency of both agricultural and solar energy production. The photovoltaics modules in AVs significantly impacts the local microclimate, influencing aspects such as solar radiation, air and soil temperatures, wind speed, and groundwater retention. Understanding these microclimatic shifts is essential not only for the effective management of AVs and strategic crop selection but also for choosing optimal adaptive solutions to climate change. Additionally, this knowledge is key to establishing a tailored monitoring system with innovative and targeted strategies, ensuring the AVs resilience and productivity in the face of evolving environmental conditions. This study sets a new benchmark in AVs design and optimization by implementing advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling for its microclimatic analysis, thereby contributing significantly to the field of sustainable agricultural practices.
Modeling the Agrivoltaic Potential for Land-Intensive Commodity Crops
Corn and soybean farming use about two-thirds of the agricultural land in the US. To accelerate the large-scale adoption of agrivoltaics, best practices that are compatible with traditional farming operations for corn and soybeans need to be developed. In this presentation, we present the development of a modeling framework to explore the benefits and trade-offs between crop growth and photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation for common commodity crops at the county level. Our model couples a crop growth model, a soil water balance model, and a PV model in one integrated scheme. As an example, we consider corn growth in Renville County, MN. The model suggests that there is a ~0.55% loss in crop yield upon 1% shading because the crop-diminishing effect of reduced radiation is partially offset by increased water retention in the ground.
Copyright (c) 2025 Uwe Kortshagen, Vivian Ferry https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Techno-Economic Analysis of a Marine Aquavoltaic System in Iran
In oil-rich countries such as the Middle East, the affordability and viability of renewable technologies and resources is hampered by the accessibility and low cost of fossil fuel resources. This represents a significant barrier to the progress and acceptance of renewable energy. The use of aquavoltaics is one of the creative measures that can solve the land and food problem and increase the attractiveness for investors. In this method, the simultaneous integration of the two systems of fish farming and photovoltaics, both of which play a crucial role in providing food security and sustainable energy, partially solves the problems of the two systems when implemented separately. The results of this research have shown that the aquavoltaic system has an annual profit of 42.32% and within 4 years the initial investment cost is returned to the investor. In addition, the aquaculture system produces 498.48 kg of Salmo Salar fish annually and the floating photovoltaic system, which consists of thin-film modules, feeds 300.85 MWh of energy into the power grid annually. The considerable profitability and shorter payback period of this project compared to the interest rates offered by Iranian banks to depositors, as well as the results of previous studies, have prompted investors to support this initiative. This in turn has encouraged the expansion of renewable energy and reduced dependence on fossil fuels.
Copyright (c) 2025 Amin Momeni, Shiva Gorjian, Barat Ghobadian https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Simple Approach for Clustering Common Insolation Profiles in Agrivoltaic Systems
Heterogeneous insolation distribution in agrivoltaic systems (AVS) impacts plant growth beneath solar panels via shading and perturbed evapotranspiration profiles. Most agricultural systems models, meanwhile, assume uniform irradiance patterns across an entire field when simulating biomass production, meaning that they cannot readily account for spatiotemporal trade-offs between agricultural production and energy generation pertaining to AVS. We develop a simple approach for enumerating trade-offs between crop/pasture production and energy generation that accounts for spatial heterogeneity in insolation that typifies most AVS fields. First, long-term spatially explicit daily insolation profiles at the ground surface are produced for several layouts, including variations in PV panel orientations, row spacings, heights and tilt angles. A clustering technique was then applied to all insolation profiles to group them into rationally bounded cluster groups. The insolation profile of each cluster group was set as an input to a conventional point-based agricultural systems model to determine agricultural production under heterogeneous insolation profiles. The proposed approach is applied to a case study near Hobart, Australia, to determine an optimal layout that maximizes energy generation and plant growth associated with 81 AVS layouts. We find a manageable number (19 clusters) of point-based agricultural model scenarios capture much of the variance in insolation variability associated with varying AVS layouts. Compared with open fields, we show that AVS can amplify pasture growth rates during late spring and early summer. The optimal layout for our case study region enhanced land productivity by 47% while maintaining 80% of agricultural production compared with open-field agriculture.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ganesh Pandey, Sarah Lyden, Evan Franklin , Matthew Tom Harrison https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Agrivoltaics (APV) combine agriculture and photovoltaic (PV) energy production on the same land and have the potential to provide several synergies for both production systems. Moving towards large-scale commercial implementation, synergies and trade-offs need to be quantified. Various APV designs exist and have been studied in field experiments in the past. In addition to PV design choices, differences respecting the crops grown, the soil conditions and the climatic conditions are known to affect crop yields. However, it is unclear how planned APV sites with conditions that differ from the known research sites will perform. This poses challenges in terms of assessing the implications for both farmers and APV planners. Therefore, we developed a framework for simulating impacts of APV shading effects on crop yields. A new APV shading model is developed to specifically match the needs of the PROMET crop model, which is capable of worldwide simulations for a large range of crop types. When compared to results from the state-of-the art bifacial radiance raytracing model, similar trends and magnitudes in irradiance reductions have been observed. Agricultural yield prediction simulations for a planned BayWa r.e. APV project in France were used as a test case. The simulation results showed large differences between one-in-portrait and two-in-portrait trackers. The simulated crop yields for the site remain only within an acceptable range for winter wheat and rapeseed with 1P trackers. While the shading model and PROMET have already been tested individually, a more in-depth validation of the entire framework is planned for the near future, when data for planned systems becomes available. The addition of the APV shading model expands capabilities of the PROMET crop model towards APV simulation and allows for future development of advanced APV-related data products.
Copyright (c) 2025 Felix Schuck, Heike Bach, Erion Bousi, Stephan Schindele https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Transforming Risk Perception and Fostering Cooperatively the Agri- PhotoVoltaics Technology With Farmers in Five Countries
The interaction between agricultural practitioners and innovative technologies has emerged as a critical area of inquiry in contemporary academic discourse. Disruptive advancements in agricultural technology—particularly in the domains of drone applications, artificial intelligence (AI), and agrivoltaics—present significant potential to address urgent environmental and energy-related challenges. However, the successful adoption and integration of these technologies are contingent upon robust processes of societal acceptance and comprehension, especially among farmers, who constitute the primary users and key stakeholders. The theory of disruptive innovation, initially conceptualized by Bower and Christensen in 1995, underscores the transformative capacity of novel technologies across various sectors. Nevertheless, the efficacy of such innovations is predicated on their seamless integration and acceptance by diverse stakeholder groups, including primary actors such as farmers and industry, as well as secondary entities with ancillary interests. For technological innovations to achieve their intended outcomes, they must be accompanied by authentic participatory processes that involve end-users from the initial stages. Within this framework, next-generation agriphotovoltaics greenhouses—which integrate photovoltaic systems with agricultural practices and enhance soil CO₂ enrichment—represent a pivotal solution for reconciling agricultural productivity with renewable energy generation. The WP6 of Regace Project. In this perspective, the WP6 of the REGACE project aimed, through the use of mixed qualitative, quantitative, and participatory methodologies, to investigate farming communities’ perceptions of agriphotovoltaics innovations. These sociological processes are intended to accompany the phases and models of agriphotovoltaics innovation from a perspective of social sustainability, with an active involvement of the community of innovation recipients.
Copyright (c) 2025 Maria Cristina Antonucci, Andrea Volterrani, Marco Serra, Cristina Cornaro, Marcello Petitta, Gianluigi Bovesecchi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Social Media Analysis of the Agrivoltaics Discourse in Japan
Japan’s first agrivoltaics project was built already 20 years ago and since then more than 4,300 projects have been implemented in all parts of the country. Nevertheless, it is still a niche technology and social acceptance is necessary to further advance agrivoltaics. Nowadays, information gathering and public opinion-making often take place on social media. Attitudes and social norms towards projects are formed online but social media is still often ignored by academia. To fill this gap, this study analyzed 21 months of Twitter data related to agrivoltaics in Japan. The results show an active discourse about agrivoltaics with an average of more than 1,000 tweets per month. The discourse is in majority supportive of agrivoltaics highlighting the potential to solve big societal problems in Japan, such as decarbonization and rural revitalization. Concerns are voiced regarding the potential negative impact on the already weak agricultural sector in Japan. Overall, a lack of reliable and evidence-based information in the discourse was noticeable. This should be addressed to avoid a shift to negative narratives based on misinformation which has already been the case in the solar photovoltaics discourse.
Copyright (c) 2025 Christian Doedt, Makoto Tajima, Tetsunari Iida https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Operational Dispatch Optimization of an Agrivoltaic System
Agrivoltaic systems, which integrate solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays with agricultural land, present a promising solution to enhance both energy and food security by facilitating the simultaneous production of energy and food. However, there is a lack of comprehensive research on the operational strategies required for the efficient and profitable operation of grid-connected agrivoltaic systems. To address this gap, this paper introduces a new method for optimizing the dispatch strategy of agrivoltaic systems. This includes strategies for temporal energy arbitrage with the grid and maximizing self-consumption of excess solar PV generation. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated through numerical simulations using real-world data from an agrivoltaic system in Aotearoa New Zealand, equipped with stationary battery storage. A conceptual model of a battery-supported agrivoltaic system is used as a test case, focusing on optimizing hourly dispatch to enhance energy efficiency, demand management, and economic viability. The study employs linear programming to optimize the storage system's performance, utilizing 24-hour forecasts for electricity prices, local energy production, and demand. The goal is to charge the storage system when electricity prices are low and discharge it as needed to minimize costs. The results from the application of the method to the case study in Aotearoa New Zealand demonstrate its effectiveness, contributing to the broader goals of energy and food security by enhancing the profitability and reliability of grid-connected agrivoltaic systems.
Copyright (c) 2025 Soheil Mohseni, Alan Brent https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Development of a Small Aquavoltaic System for Co-Production of Microalgae and Electricity
In this study, a small aquavoltaic system was developed to simultaneously generate solar electricity and improve the conditions for the cultivation of microalgae. The key operating parameters of the system — dissolved oxygen, pH, water temperature and dead zones — were evaluated to gain insights into the dual benefits of integrating solar energy into aquaculture systems. In this context, the independent variable parameters of the rotation speed of a paddle wheel in the pond at 10, 20, and 30 rpm, the water depth at 15, 25, and 35 cm, and the reaction time at 0.5, 1 and 1.5 h were evaluated on May 9-15, 2023. The Response Surface Methodology, the Central Composite Design, and the experimental design were used to optimize the independent variables on the amount of dissolved oxygen for microalgae production in the open raceway pond. In this case, a maximum dissolved oxygen of 6.94 mg/l was achieved after 1 hour, at a water depth of 25 cm, and at a rotation speed of 20 rpm. Increasing the rotation speed from 10 to 30 rpm brought the dissolved oxygen content in the water to the desirable range of 6 to 7 mg/l and resulted in a decrease in stagnant areas from 21.05% to 9.16%. In addition, the shading effect of the photovoltaic system on the open pond was more than 80%, which led to a decrease in water temperature and dissolved oxygen.
Copyright (c) 2025 Hooman Pirtaj Hamedani, Shiva Gorjian, Barat Ghobadian https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Preface: AgriVoltaics World Conference 2024
The 5th AgriVoltaics World Conference in Denver, Colorado, USA was a landmark event for the global agrivoltaics community. Nearly 500 scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and industry leaders from over 30 countries gathered to share international research outcomes and facilitate the deployment of agrivoltaics. The conference theme of “Building Food-Energy-Water Resilience through Agrivoltaics at Multiple Scales” permeated each technical session, roundtable discussion, and poster session. The event’s broad representation of scientific disciplines, government sectors, and nations highlighted the diverse partnerships and collaborative ethos that is driving agrivoltaics forward, while emphasizing regional and local differences in agrivoltaic designs and applications. AgriVoltaics2024 showcased the leading edge of agrivoltaics research and development practice. More than 60 technical sessions, 8 roundtable discussions, and 80+ poster presentations offered participants a deep dive into novel analyses, technological innovations, foundational tools, and real-world applications in agrivoltaics. Sessions addressed critical issues related to multiple approaches to “scaling agrivoltaics,” such as workforce development, industry perspectives, legal frameworks, community engagement, and best practices. As agrivoltaics continues to grow as a field and research discipline, questions of how to scale deployment most effectively must take into consideration insights from the burgeoning research community. This conference enabled direct engagement among researchers, industry, and policymakers to foster discussions on improved research approaches and agrivoltaic deployment strategies. Beyond technical content, the largest AgriVoltaics World Conference to-date delivered unforgettable learning and networking opportunities, illuminating the growth in the global agrivoltaics community and the desire for increased coordination. Participants visited multiple agrivoltaics sites that demonstrated successful agrivoltaic solutions across multiple scales, celebrated winners of the Student Design Competition for novel agrivoltaic applications, contributed to a strategic workshop aimed at international coordination of agrivoltaics research, and enjoyed agrivoltaics-grown food during the conference dinner and networking event. The spirit of community and commitment to excellence of the 5th AgriVoltaics World Conference is embodied in these proceedings. A stated goal of the conference was to bridge the scientific and non-scientific communities necessary for agrivoltaics to flourish. The proceedings showcase this harmony across communities and represent the latest advancements in agrivoltaics that lay the groundwork for continued global progress.
Copyright (c) 2025 Alexis Pascaris, Jordan Macknick, Greg Barron-Gafford https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0