Scientific frontiers of agrivoltaic cropping systems – Nature

Report on Agrivoltaic Cropping Systems and Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Integrating Energy and Agriculture for Global Goals

Agrivoltaic (AV) systems represent a critical innovation at the nexus of food and energy production, directly addressing multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By integrating agriculture with photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation, these systems offer a solution to land-use competition, a key challenge for SDG 15 (Life on Land). This dual-use approach simultaneously supports SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by preserving agricultural activities and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) by expanding renewable energy capacity. While AV systems present agronomic and economic advantages, including more stable crop production and diversified farm income, their implementation faces significant hurdles that must be overcome to realize their full potential.

Global Potential and Contribution to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)

The global electricity generation potential of AV systems is substantial, estimated at approximately 66–385 PWh annually. This capacity, dependent on PV technology and installation density in suitable areas, could make a major contribution to achieving global clean energy targets under SDG 7. However, this potential is contingent on addressing deployment barriers and does not account for grid availability.

Analysis of Challenges in Aligning AV Systems with SDGs

Agricultural Performance and Food Security (SDG 2)

A primary challenge for the widespread adoption of AV systems is their potential negative impact on agricultural performance, which could undermine progress towards SDG 2. These effects are highly variable and depend on several factors.

• The extent of performance decrease is climate-specific, crop-specific, and system layout-specific.
• Shading conditions created by PV modules can hinder the growth of certain crops, requiring careful selection of shade-tolerant species.
• Assessing crop performance before installation is difficult due to a lack of standardized methodologies and long-term field observations needed to validate predictive models.

Economic Viability and Inclusive Growth (SDG 8)

While AV systems can lead to higher farmer revenues, significant economic barriers hinder their contribution to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

1. High Upfront Costs: Installation is typically 20–90% costlier than conventional ground-mounted PV systems, often preventing widespread adoption by farmers.
2. Economic Competitiveness: Advanced technologies like wavelength-selective PV, which can enhance crop performance, still face challenges related to economic competitiveness against standard modules.
3. Business Model Innovation: Despite the potential for higher revenues, the high initial investment requires innovative business models that can distribute profits equitably between both energy and agricultural stakeholders to ensure financial viability.

Environmental Sustainability and Social Acceptance (SDG 11, 12, 15)

The deployment of AV systems involves complex trade-offs related to environmental and social sustainability, impacting goals for sustainable communities, responsible production, and terrestrial ecosystems.

• Environmental Impact Assessment: The multifunctionality of AV systems complicates life-cycle assessments (SDG 12), requiring careful allocation of impacts to balance environmental benefits and costs.
• Social Acceptance and Landscape Impact: Visual perception is a key driver for social acceptance. The impact on landscapes is a major concern for local communities, making careful design crucial for alignment with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
• Stakeholder Engagement: Addressing the concerns of diverse stakeholders regarding shared land resources is essential for sustainable deployment and can inform research and development priorities.

Strategic Pathways for Scaling Agrivoltaics

Technological and Operational Innovations for Synergy

Addressing the current challenges requires targeted developments in technology, system configuration, and operational methods. These innovations are vital for enhancing the synergy between agriculture and energy production, thereby strengthening contributions to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

• Wavelength-Selective PV: Developing PV technologies that selectively use wavelengths of light for electricity while transmitting those essential for photosynthesis can enhance crop performance.
• Optimized System Configurations: Strategic module spacing and other design optimizations can reduce shading and improve the microclimate for crops.
• Advanced Operational Methods: Optimizing tracking strategies for PV modules and integrating agricultural infrastructure can balance the needs of both crop production and energy generation.

Policy and Collaborative Frameworks for Sustainable Deployment

The successful scaling of AV systems is heavily dependent on supportive policies and collaborative efforts, reflecting the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

1. Cross-Sector Policies: Integrated policies are needed to address the needs of diverse stakeholders from the energy, agriculture, and environmental sectors over shared land resources.
2. Stakeholder Collaboration: Further development will require robust collaboration among the design, performance, deployment, and systems research communities to create standardized methodologies and share long-term observational data.
3. Accurate Pre-Installation Modelling: Development and support for accurate models that simulate microclimate effects are required to predict crop and energy performance, enabling better decision-making before installation.

Analysis of Agrivoltaic Systems and Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  The article discusses agrivoltaic (AV) systems as a way to “preserve agricultural activities” and achieve “more stable crop production.” This directly connects to ensuring food security and promoting sustainable agriculture, which are central to SDG 2.

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  The core concept of AV systems is the integration of “electricity conversion through photovoltaic (PV) modules” with agriculture. The article quantifies the “global electricity potential of AV systems” as being between 66–385 PWh annually, highlighting its significant contribution to renewable energy production, a key goal of SDG 7.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article points to the “agronomic and economic advantages” of AV systems, such as providing “additional farm income” and “higher farmer revenues.” It also mentions opportunities for “innovative business models,” which can stimulate economic growth and create new profit streams for both energy and agricultural sectors, aligning with SDG 8.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The text highlights the need for technological advancements to overcome the challenges of AV systems. It mentions developments like “wavelength-selective PV,” optimizing “system configurations,” and “integrating agricultural infrastructure.” This focus on technological innovation and improving infrastructure for dual-purpose use is directly related to SDG 9.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article addresses the “landscape impact” and “social acceptance” of AV systems, noting that “Visual perception is a key driver for social acceptance.” This emphasizes the importance of sustainable land-use planning and community engagement, which are components of SDG 11.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  By integrating agriculture and energy production, AV systems aim to “reduce land-use competition.” This represents a more efficient and sustainable use of a finite natural resource (land), which is a core principle of SDG 12.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The ability of AV systems to reduce competition for land means that agricultural land can be preserved rather than converted solely for energy production. This helps in maintaining ecosystems and halting land degradation, which is relevant to SDG 15.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article concludes that “Cross-sector policies can support AV systems by addressing the needs of diverse stakeholders” and that “Further development will require collaboration among the design, performance, deployment and systems research communities.” This call for multi-stakeholder and cross-sectoral collaboration is the essence of SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 2.4 (under SDG 2)

  This target aims to “ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices.” The article’s focus on achieving “more stable crop production” and preserving “agricultural activities” through AV systems directly supports this target by promoting a resilient, dual-use agricultural model.

• Target 7.2 (under SDG 7)

  This target is to “increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.” The article’s analysis of the “global electricity potential of AV systems” (~66–385 PWh annually) clearly demonstrates how this technology can contribute to achieving this target.

• Target 8.2 (under SDG 8)

  This target focuses on achieving “higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation.” The article’s mention of AV systems offering “additional farm income” and “innovative business models” for both energy and agricultural actors aligns with this goal of economic diversification and productivity.

• Target 9.4 (under SDG 9)

  This target calls for upgrading infrastructure and retrofitting industries to make them sustainable through “increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies.” The development of advanced AV systems, such as those using “wavelength-selective PV” and optimized configurations, represents the adoption of clean technology to improve the resource efficiency of land.

• Target 11.a (under SDG 11)

  This target supports “positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.” The article’s emphasis on “careful landscape design,” addressing “social acceptance,” and managing “landscape impact” through stakeholder engagement is crucial for integrating AV systems into regional planning.

• Target 12.2 (under SDG 12)

  This target aims to “achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.” The primary benefit of AV systems highlighted in the article is that they “can reduce land-use competition,” which is a direct example of achieving more efficient use of land resources.

• Target 15.3 (under SDG 15)

  This target aims to “combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil…and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.” By allowing for the continuation of agricultural activities on land that might otherwise be converted for solar farms, AV systems contribute to preventing land degradation associated with single-use development.

• Target 17.17 (under SDG 17)

  This target encourages “effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.” The article’s call for “Cross-sector policies” to address the needs of “diverse stakeholders” and for “collaboration among the design, performance, deployment and systems research communities” directly reflects the need for such partnerships.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Agricultural Performance and Crop Production

  The article mentions that AV systems can have “Negative effects… on agricultural performance” and that this is “crop-specific.” This implies that crop yield (e.g., tons per hectare) and overall agricultural productivity are key indicators for measuring progress towards Target 2.4.

• Renewable Energy Generation

  The article explicitly states the “global electricity potential of AV systems is ~66–385 PWh annually” and mentions “decreased energy conversion per unit of land area” as a challenge. These figures can be used as indicators to measure the contribution of AV systems to the share of renewable energy (Indicator 7.2.1).

• Economic Viability and Income

  The article refers to “additional farm income,” “higher farmer revenues,” and the “high upfront cost” (20–90% costlier). These financial metrics, such as the change in farm income, return on investment, and installation costs, serve as direct indicators for assessing the economic benefits and viability of AV systems (relevant to Target 8.2).

• Land Use Efficiency

  The core benefit of AV systems is reducing “land-use competition.” The efficiency of this dual-use system can be measured by comparing the combined output (energy and crops) from one piece of land against the output from two separate pieces of land, a concept implied in the article’s discussion of multifunctionality.

• Social Acceptance

  The article identifies “social acceptance” and “Visual perception” as key issues. Progress can be measured through stakeholder surveys and public opinion polls to gauge community perceptions and concerns, as implied by the statement that “Stakeholder concerns can inform research needs.”

• Environmental Impact

  The article notes that the “Multifunctionality of AV systems complicates life-cycle assessments.” The results of such assessments, which balance “environmental benefits and costs,” can serve as indicators to measure the overall environmental sustainability of these systems.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nature.com