Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.2
3.3
Journals
Agronomy
Special Issues
Integration of Agriculture and Solar Energy Production: Advances and Challenges...
share announcement

Integration of Agriculture and Solar Energy Production: Advances and Challenges in Agrivoltaic Systems

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Farming Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 March 2025) | Viewed by 13845

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Diego Soto-Gómez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain
Interests: soil physics; soil analysis; organic matter; chemical engineering; environmental science; environmental impact assessment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The concept of agrivoltaics (agrovoltaics, agri-photovoltaics, solar sharing or APV systems) refers to an innovative approach that integrates solar panels with agricultural and livestock activities, offering dual benefits of renewable energy production and increased agricultural and livestock yields. This practice maximizes land use efficiency by providing partial shading, offering protection to crops and livestock from extreme temperatures, and reducing water evaporation while generating clean energy. Research highlights the importance of tailored solar panel designs to optimize both crop growth and energy production. The development of robust legal frameworks, financial incentives and specialized training programs are crucial for the widespread adoption of agrivoltaic systems. This field presents significant opportunities for sustainable development, addressing both food and energy security challenges globally.

Dr. Diego Soto-Gómez
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • solar sharing
  • renewable energy
  • agrivoltaics
  • dual land use
  • crop protection
  • livestock integration
  • land use efficiency
  • land equivalent ratio (LAR)
  • climate resilience
  • water efficiency
  • renewable energy incentives
  • shade management

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

22 pages, 6068 KiB  
Article
Agrivoltaics: Integration of Reused PV Modules
by María-Beatriz Nieto-Morone, Miguel-Ángel Muñoz-García, David Pérez López, Carlota Bernal-Basurco, Félix García Rosillo and María del Carmen Alonso-García
Agronomy 2025, 15(3), 730; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15030730 - 18 Mar 2025
Viewed by 711
Abstract
This study evaluates the integration of reused PV modules within an agrivoltaic system designed for sustainable horticultural production, focusing on energy performance and agricultural outcomes. The experimental setup included both new and partially repaired PV modules, installed over tomato crops under real operating [...] Read more.
This study evaluates the integration of reused PV modules within an agrivoltaic system designed for sustainable horticultural production, focusing on energy performance and agricultural outcomes. The experimental setup included both new and partially repaired PV modules, installed over tomato crops under real operating conditions. The results demonstrate that reused PV modules exhibit a strong and consistent energy performance, achieving correlations between irradiance and energy output comparable to new panels. Despite slightly lower performance ratios, reused modules maintained stable efficiency and operational viability, emphasizing their potential for sustainable applications. On the agricultural side, shading provided by PV panels protects the crop yield. This study highlights the environmental and economic advantages of incorporating reused PV modules into agrivoltaic systems, including reductions in raw material extraction, electronic waste generation, and overall environmental impact. By leveraging the circular economy principles, agrivoltaics with reused PV modules provide a sustainable pathway to balance energy production and food security while optimizing land use efficiency. These findings establish the potential of agrivoltaics as a key technology in advancing the sustainable energy transition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Agriculture and Solar Energy Production: Advances and Challenges in Agrivoltaic Systems)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 7643 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Interstitial Woody Plantings in North–South Axis Solar-Tracking Photovoltaic Systems: Balancing Shading Impact and Landscape Integration
by Miguel Gómez Villarino, Pablo Serrano Drozdowskyj, Jesús López-Santiago, Alejandro Gómez Villarino and María Teresa Gómez-Villarino
Agronomy 2025, 15(3), 694; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15030694 - 13 Mar 2025
Viewed by 593
Abstract
This paper evaluates the feasibility of integrating interstitial woody plantings into north–south axis solar-tracking photovoltaic (PV) systems in Spain to enhance landscape integration while minimizing shading. A computational model based on a typical PV plant geometry (13.5 m row spacing and 2.42 m [...] Read more.
This paper evaluates the feasibility of integrating interstitial woody plantings into north–south axis solar-tracking photovoltaic (PV) systems in Spain to enhance landscape integration while minimizing shading. A computational model based on a typical PV plant geometry (13.5 m row spacing and 2.42 m rotation axis height) is developed to simulate tree canopy interactions. Focusing on an intermediate “limiting plane” set at 23° from the panels’ lower edge, the model calculates shade duration and coverage under varying sun elevations throughout the year. Trees with a crown diameter of 1.2 m and a total height of 3.04 m, spaced 4 m apart, cast shadows for approximately 46 min each morning and afternoon, resulting in an average 3.3% panel occlusion and a peak shadow intensity of 33.6% on specific days, declining to 32% after one month. Shading intensity remains modest during early morning and late afternoon hours, when solar irradiance is lower, further reducing potential energy losses. The crowns’ diffuse nature mitigates shadow effects. The findings suggest that medium-height tree plantings can provide ecological, aesthetic, and social benefits while incurring minimal impact on energy yield in agrivoltaic systems. The study underscores the importance of selecting planting height and spacing according to solar path and tracker geometry. Future research should validate the model under operational conditions and evaluate the dual benefits for renewable energy output and plant growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Agriculture and Solar Energy Production: Advances and Challenges in Agrivoltaic Systems)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 994 KiB  
Article
A Ray-Tracing-Based Irradiance Model for Agrivoltaic Greenhouses: Development and Application
by Anna Kujawa, Natalie Hanrieder, Stefan Wilbert, Álvaro Fernández Solas, Sergio González Rodríguez, María del Carmen Alonso-García, Jesús Polo, José Antonio Carballo, Guadalupe López-Díaz, Cristina Cornaro and Robert Pitz-Paal
Agronomy 2025, 15(3), 665; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15030665 - 7 Mar 2025
Viewed by 682
Abstract
A key challenge in designing agrivoltaic systems is avoiding or minimizing the negative impact of photovoltaic-induced shading on crops. This study introduces a novel ray-tracing-based irradiance model for evaluating the irradiance distribution inside agrivoltaic greenhouses taking into account the transmission characteristics of the [...] Read more.
A key challenge in designing agrivoltaic systems is avoiding or minimizing the negative impact of photovoltaic-induced shading on crops. This study introduces a novel ray-tracing-based irradiance model for evaluating the irradiance distribution inside agrivoltaic greenhouses taking into account the transmission characteristics of the greenhouse’s cover material. Simulations are based on satellite-derived irradiance data and are performed with high spatial and temporal resolution. The model is tested by reproducing the agrivoltaic greenhouse experiment of a previous study and comparing the simulated irradiance to the experimentally measured data. The coordinates of the sensor positions in the presented application are optimized based on one day of raw data of minutely measured irradiance from the experimental study. These coordinates are then used to perform simulations over an extended timeframe of several months to take into account the seasonal changes throughout a crop cycle. The average deviation between the simulations and the experimental measurements in terms of radiation reduction is determined as 2.88 percentage points for the entire crop cycle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Agriculture and Solar Energy Production: Advances and Challenges in Agrivoltaic Systems)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 6659 KiB  
Article
Productivity and Morphological Adaptation of Phaseolus vulgaris L. in Agrivoltaic Systems with Different Photovoltaic Technologies: A Case Study in Chachapoyas, Amazonas, Peru
by Wildor Gosgot Angeles, Duber Banda Martinez, Miguel Ángel Barrena Gurbillón, Fernando Isaac Espinoza Canaza, Homar Santillan Gomez, Diana Carina Mori Servan, Merbelita Yalta Chappa, Milton Américo Huanes Mariños, Oscar Andrés Gamarra-Torres and Manuel Oliva-Cruz
Agronomy 2025, 15(3), 529; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15030529 - 21 Feb 2025
Viewed by 758
Abstract
The increasing demand for food and energy presents challenges for agricultural and energy sustainability, especially in regions with limited arable land. This study analyzed the productivity and morphological adaptations of Phaseolus vulgaris L. in agrivoltaic systems using monofacial, bifacial, and semi-transparent photovoltaic technologies [...] Read more.
The increasing demand for food and energy presents challenges for agricultural and energy sustainability, especially in regions with limited arable land. This study analyzed the productivity and morphological adaptations of Phaseolus vulgaris L. in agrivoltaic systems using monofacial, bifacial, and semi-transparent photovoltaic technologies under the high Andean climatic conditions of Chachapoyas, Amazonas, Peru. The evaluated varieties, Panamito and Chaucha, were cultivated with planting distances of 25 cm and 35 cm. The analyzed variables included plant height, number of trifoliate leaves, number of flowers, number and weight of pods, grain weight, and yield. The experiment was designed with plots under agrivoltaic systems and a conventional system as a control. Environmental parameters such as photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), irradiance, precipitation, leaf moisture, soil moisture, and ambient temperature were monitored. Results showed that the bifacial system with a planting density of 25 cm was the most efficient, recording a plant height of 139.38 cm, an average grain weight of 67.97 g, and a yield of 700.5 kg/ha, significantly surpassing the conventional system. These findings shows the potential of agrivoltaic systems to enhance agricultural production by efficiently utilizing solar radiation and land, providing an innovative solution for integrating agriculture and energy generation, as well as increasing productivity in scenarios with land-use competition and climatic challenges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Agriculture and Solar Energy Production: Advances and Challenges in Agrivoltaic Systems)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

30 pages, 2099 KiB  
Review
Integration of Crops, Livestock, and Solar Panels: A Review of Agrivoltaic Systems
by Diego Soto-Gómez
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1824; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081824 - 19 Aug 2024
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 10331
Abstract
This review article focuses on agrivoltaic production systems (AV). The transition towards renewable energy sources, driven by the need to respond to climate change, competition for land use, and the scarcity of fossil fuels, has led to the consideration of new ways to [...] Read more.
This review article focuses on agrivoltaic production systems (AV). The transition towards renewable energy sources, driven by the need to respond to climate change, competition for land use, and the scarcity of fossil fuels, has led to the consideration of new ways to optimise land use while producing clean energy. AV systems not only generate energy but also allow agricultural and livestock yields to be maintained or even increased under PV structures, offering a sustainable production strategy that may be more acceptable to local communities than traditional PV installations. This review assesses the technical feasibility of AV systems, the environmental, economic and social benefits, as well as the challenges faced and the legal framework regulating their implementation. It is highlighted that despite the advantages in land use efficiency and dual food and energy production, there are important challenges related to the initial investment required, the need for technological adaptation, social and regulatory obstacles, or the effects of shading on production. This paper underlines the importance of further research and development of these systems to overcome technical and economic constraints and maximise their potential benefits. It is concluded that although they present significant challenges, AV management offers promising opportunities to improve land efficiency and contribute to several sustainable development goals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Agriculture and Solar Energy Production: Advances and Challenges in Agrivoltaic Systems)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop