This sounds like a team of super heroes holding up crumbling bridges, and saving cats that are stuck in trees. I would like to inflate your bubble and suggest that it’s something even cooler.
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Agrivoltaics, the innovative approach of combining solar energy production with agricultural activities on the same land, is revolutionising how businesses think about energy use and sustainability. This cutting-edge concept is a solution to the growing demand for both renewable energy and food production, addressing land use concerns while maximising efficiency.
I told you it was cooler than the multiverse… and more realistic.
For businesses, agrivoltaics presents a unique opportunity to reduce energy costs and carbon footprints while supporting local agriculture. By installing elevated solar panels over croplands or grazing areas, companies can generate clean energy for their operations while allowing farming activities to continue beneath. This dual-use approach not only optimises land use but also creates a symbiotic relationship between energy production and agriculture.
Recent developments prove the growing importance of agrivoltaics. A new international study led by the University of Sheffield has demonstrated that agrivoltaics can significantly boost crop yields, conserve water, and generate low-carbon electricity in areas vulnerable to climate change. The research found that crops like maize, Swiss chard, and beans thrived under the partial shade of solar panels, which also helped reduce water loss through evaporation.
Germany is at the forefront of agrivoltaic adoption, with projections from the German Energy Agency (DENA) suggesting the country could add up to 1 GW of agri-PV capacity by 2025. This significant increase from the current 14 MW installed capacity is supported by government initiatives, including dedicated segments in solar tenders to offset the higher costs of agrivoltaic projects.
Globally, the International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Program (IEA PVPS) has established an Action Group on Agrivoltaics, recognizing the technology’s transformative potential. This group aims to address challenges in land use, climate resilience, and energy transition, with a comprehensive report on global trends in agrivoltaics due in November 2025.
Pilot projects have shown promising results. In Heggelbach, Germany, agrivoltaic systems have demonstrated that crops like wheat and potatoes can outperform those in traditional settings, especially during heatwaves. Similarly, in Japan, solar panels installed over apple orchards have protected fruit from sunburn while generating electricity for local use.
As the global installed capacity of agrivoltaic systems grew from a mere 5 MW in 2012 to over 14 GW in 2021, it’s clear that this technology is gaining traction. For businesses looking to enhance their sustainability efforts and energy independence, agrivoltaics offers a promising path forward, aligning corporate interests with environmental stewardship and community support.
References
Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE (2018) Agrophotovoltaics: High harvesting yield in hot summer of 2018. Available at: https://www.ise.fraunhofer.de (Accessed: 9 January 2025).
Global Environment Facility (2024) Agrivoltaics. Available at: https://www.thegef.org (Accessed: 9 January 2025).
Leadvent Group (2024) Agrivoltaic system design and optimization. Available at: https://www.leadventgrp.com (Accessed: 9 January 2025).
United Nations University (2023) Optimizing agricultural land use. Available at: https://unu.edu (Accessed: 9 January 2025).
University of Sheffield (2025) International study on agrivoltaics and climate resilience. Available at: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk (Accessed: 9 January 2025).
German Energy Agency (DENA) (2025) Projections for Agri-PV capacity in Germany. Available at: https://www.dena.de (Accessed: 9 January 2025).
International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA PVPS) (2025) Action group on agrivoltaics report. Available at: https://www.iea-pvps.org (Accessed: 9 January 2025).