Search Results (175)

Agricultural seeds are sold as commodities yet seed quality can be non-uniform. Despite the extensive literature showing that plasma treatments of seeds provides advantages for many crops, lettuce studies, particularly in indoor farming systems, are limited. This study provides a systematic investigation of the impacts of non-thermal plasma treatments with various feed gases (N₂, O₂, dry air, and wet air) on the germination and growth characteristics of four lettuce cultivars (Red Oakleaf (RO), Black Simpson (BS), Valley Heart Romaine (VHR), and Paris Romaine (PR)) under controlled cultivation conditions in an agrivoltaic agrotunnel. Although the germination time was not conclusively affected by the treatments, the results show a complex interaction between germination rate and yield across the different cultivars and plasma treatments. Except for PR seeds (77.8% vs. 65.8% control), wet air plasma treatments increased germination rates by 18.7–100% over controls for all other cultivars. In yield analysis, wet air treatment had the strongest effect, especially for VHR (51.7 vs. 42.5 g/pot). Treatments did not notably affect RO. For BS, N₂ treatment gave the highest increase (54.2 vs. 48.1 g/pot), while PR responded best to O₂ treatment (58.4 vs. 51.8 g/pot). The energy consumption of plasma treatments was negligible for all treatments, while labor costs for small batches of seeds accounted for the largest share of secondary operating costs (839, 622, and 659 h/year, respectively for BS, VHR, and PR). Despite additional expenses, including labor, O&M, and degradation costs, the reduced seed requirements from higher germination rates and higher yield increased net profit by 12.0% compared to untreated cultivation in the most impacted (Valley Heart Romaine) lettuce. There is an opportunity for further cost optimization of the non-thermal plasma treatment for each type of lettuce seed. Full article

Agrivoltaic systems integrate solar electricity generation with agricultural production on the same land and have emerged as a promising strategy to address land-use conflicts between food and energy systems. This PRISMA-based systematic review synthesizes evidence from 249 peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2025, applying an integrated three-dimensional framework that simultaneously examines technical efficiency, environmental sustainability, and institutional governance. The results show that agrivoltaic systems consistently achieve superior land-use performance, with Land Equivalent Ratio values typically ranging between 1.2 and 1.8, indicating 20–80% greater territorial efficiency than separate agricultural and photovoltaic systems. In water-stressed regions, reported improvements in water-use efficiency commonly reach 15–30%, while life-cycle assessments indicate substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts. The integrated analysis also reveals important design-dependent trade-offs related to panel density, crop selection, and local agroclimatic conditions. Despite their demonstrated technical and environmental maturity, the large-scale deployment of agrivoltaic systems remains constrained by institutional barriers, including the lack of dedicated regulatory frameworks, fragmented agricultural and energy policies, and the strong geographical concentration of research in the Global North, with limited evidence from Latin America and other regions of the Global South. Overall, the findings indicate that agrivoltaic systems represent a credible component of integrated land-use and energy transition strategies, but their responsible scaling will depend primarily on advances in governance, policy alignment, and context-specific system design. Full article

Agrivoltaics offer a sustainable solution to the growing competition between food and energy production. However, their adoption is often constrained by the design and operation challenges associated with optimising the complex trade-off between crop yield and photovoltaic (PV) output. Digital twins can mitigate these risks, yet most agricultural digital twins operate as fragmented digital shadows, lacking high-fidelity modelling, advanced simulation, and bidirectional control capabilities. This study presents a comprehensive, end-to-end digital twin framework to address these limitations. The framework integrates a high-resolution 3D orchard model, reconstructed via UAV photogrammetry, with a CesiumJS-based web interface linked to a modular IoT architecture built on Node-RED, Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol and InfluxDB for real-time monitoring and control. A PV simulation engine supports the design, simulation and optimisation of agrivoltaic systems. Bidirectional communication was validated through remote actuation of a physical solar tracker, demonstrating integration among the 3D environment, sensor data and control systems to achieve a closed-loop digital twin. Simulation analyses suggested that panel orientation and row spacing exert a dominant influence on crop-level light distribution. Simulation results demonstrated that a 90° azimuth configuration achieved the highest daily energy yield of 53.97 kWh but reduced peak crop-level irradiance to 205 W/m². In contrast, the baseline 0° configuration offered a balanced output of 40.86 kWh with a peak light availability of 338 W/m². The validated, interoperable digital twin architecture provides a reference model for the design, simulation, monitoring and control of an agrivoltaic system, reducing investment uncertainty and supporting sustainable food–energy co-production. Full article

Agrivoltaic Systems (AV) constitute a viable alternative to mitigate land-use competition by enabling the simultaneous production of agricultural crops and solar photovoltaic energy. However, the heterogeneous shading and microclimatic modifications induced by AV systems can alter solar radiation, crop physiological performance, and, consequently, its biomass. This study evaluated the effects of two static ground-mounted AV systems—semi-transparent (ST) and conventional opaque (CON) panels—on the growth, physiology, soil water variations, and yield of Arugula (Eruca vesicaria) cultivated in southern Italy from August to October 2022; compared with an open-field control (REF). Daily soil temperature and water content were monitored, alongside leaf-level gas exchange measurements at three vegetative stages. Global solar radiation was reduced by 70% under ST and 80% under CON, reducing Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR), transpiration, and net photosynthesis, while leaf water use efficiency remained comparable to REF. Sequential harvests showed that although yields were consistently highest in REF, ST 50% and CON 50% exhibited partial recovery in fresh and dry biomass by the third cutting, reflecting the mitigating effect of seasonal temperature declines on shading. Notably, soil water uniformity improved under AV systems, reaching 90% under ST and 94% under CON compared with 85% in REF, due to reduced evaporative losses and enhanced lateral soil water redistribution. Overall, while AV-induced shading limits radiation and yield in short-cycle leafy arugula, microclimate modulation under AV systems can enhance soil water distribution and partially buffer growth under less favorable seasonal conditions. These findings highlight the trade-offs between crop productivity and resource-use efficiency in AV systems and emphasize the importance of tailoring their design to crop type and local climatic conditions, providing valuable guidance for future experimental research and for policymakers aiming to support sustainable agrivoltaic deployment. Full article

Agriculture and food systems are among the world’s greatest energy consumers and emitters of greenhouse gases (GHGs), highlighting the importance of energy-efficient strategies that maintain a balance between productivity and sustainability. This study used the PRISMA-ScR methodology and the Biblioshiny platform to conduct a systematic review and evaluation of renewable energy integration and digital advances in agriculture and food systems. Fifty-one peer-reviewed research articles published between 2009 and 2025 were examined to determine technology trends, performance outcomes, and adoption challenges. The findings identified two significant innovation pathways: renewable energy technology such as solar-powered irrigation, biogas generation, and agrivoltaic systems, and digital solutions such as precision agriculture, Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled monitoring, and automation. Results indicate yield improvements of 10–25%, irrigation water savings of up to 40%, and yearly GHG emissions reductions of 0.3 to 0.6 tonnes of CO₂ per hectare. However, adoption remains uneven across regions, restricted by infrastructural constraints, capital costs, and inadequate policy support especially in underdeveloped countries. Overall, combining renewable energy and digital technology improves productivity, resource-use efficiency, and environmental performance while promoting various SDGs. Furthermore, integrating these two types of technologies leads to digital economic transformation in agriculture and food systems. These findings show the innovative potential of energy-efficient solutions in enabling sustainable intensification and climate resilience in agriculture. Full article

Direct solar photovoltaic to electrolyser systems offer a promising pathway for producing low-carbon hydrogen, yet their performance and scalability remain limited by challenges that arise when variable solar generation is coupled to electrochemical conversion, with unresolved implications for electrolyser lifetime and hydrogen production cost. This review synthesises recent advances in photovoltaic technologies, electrolyser development and emerging deployment configurations to evaluate the technical, operational and environmental factors that shape system feasibility. The assessment draws on findings from experimental studies, modelling frameworks and techno-economic analyses to examine photovoltaic efficiency losses, thermal and material degradation, high-resolution intermittency effects, electrolyser dynamics, degradation mechanisms and storage interactions, and their combined influence on usage-dependent lifetime and cost behaviour. The results show that fluctuating solar input reduces conversion efficiency, increases transient overpotentials and accelerates degradation in both photovoltaic modules and electrolyser stacks. Technology-specific trade-offs persist, with alkaline water electrolysis constrained by limited flexibility, proton exchange membrane electrolysis by reliance on scarce catalyst materials, and anion exchange membrane and solid oxide electrolysis systems requiring further validation under real-world variability. Floating photovoltaic systems and agrivoltaics expand deployment opportunities but introduce additional constraints related to water quality, ecological impacts and power variability. Overall, the review finds that system-level integration, dynamic modelling, degradation-aware design and coordinated storage strategies are essential to unlocking reliable and scalable solar-to-hydrogen production. Full article

Agrivoltaics (AVs), the co-location of photovoltaic panels and agricultural production, is increasingly promoted as a strategy to enhance land-use efficiency and support renewable energy transitions. While numerous studies emphasize potential synergies, growing evidence indicates that AV systems also entail significant biophysical, ecological and socio-economic trade-offs. This review synthesizes published literature on the negative impacts and management challenges associated with agrivoltaics across diverse crops, climates and institutional contexts. A structured literature analysis was conducted, integrating findings from experimental field studies, ecological assessments, economic evaluations and policy analyses. The reviewed evidence demonstrates that panel-induced shading and altered microclimatic conditions frequently reduce photosynthetically active radiation, modify soil temperature and moisture regimes, and impair photosynthetic efficiency, yield stability, and quality in light-demanding crops. Open-field AV installations further alter understory vegetation, pollinator activity and soil arthropod communities, leading to functional biodiversity losses beneath panel-covered areas. Economic and institutional analyses reveal high investment costs, regulatory ambiguity and land-tenure constraints that disproportionately transfer agronomic and financial risks to farmers, while land-use conflicts may reduce food production and contribute to indirect land-use change. Overall, open-field AV outcomes are strongly context- and design-dependent. The review highlights the need for long-term, integrative assessments and governance frameworks that explicitly address trade-offs to ensure that AVs contribute to sustainable land-use transitions rather than undermining agricultural and ecological functions. Full article

Policy instability and regulatory barriers remain key obstacles to the long-term viability of agriphotovoltaics (APV) deployment. The Penthéréaz case in Switzerland provides empirical evidence of how cooperative governance and collective self-consumption can restore project feasibility after subsidy withdrawal. Using a single-case study and process-tracing approach based on cooperative documentation and regulatory records, the analysis explains how Penthéréaz Énergie Photovoltaïque S.A. cooperative (PEP)., initially structured as a subsidy-dependent venture, transitioned into a resilient collective self-consumption network supported by a private micro-grid. Following the withdrawal of federal feed-in tariffs, the project faced major economic risk and responded through decentralized financial restructuring, including community-funded debt at a 2% interest rate. The installation comprises 1180 photovoltaic panels with an installed capacity of 283 kWp, producing approximately 290,000 kWh per year while providing water-tightness and light permeability for agricultural infrastructure. The findings further indicate that operational success contributed to Swiss regulatory adjustments, enabling private distribution networks to cross public roads and secure geographic continuity for local energy sharing. With a reported self-consumption rate of 40% across a diversified user base including agri-food and residential consumers, the case demonstrates the operational value of local load-matching. The findings propose six context-dependent lessons derived from a single case, emphasizing governance capacity, tariff risk management, regulatory adaptability, and demand-oriented system design. Full article

Agrivoltaic (AV) systems offer a promising solution to global challenges, such as land scarcity, food insecurity, and increasing energy demand, by enabling the simultaneous production of photovoltaic (PV) electricity and agricultural outputs on the same land. This review synthesizes more than two decades of interdisciplinary research on solar–agriculture integration, including agrivoltaic systems, biomass-based approaches, and greenhouse-integrated photovoltaic technologies, with particular emphasis on their relevance to arid and semi-arid environments, such as those found in the Middle East. The impacts of different PV configurations (such as semi-transparent, bifacial, vertical, and sun-tracking modules) on crop productivity, microclimatic conditions, and land-use efficiency are critically examined. The findings indicate that AV systems, particularly in water-scarce, high-irradiance regions, can enhance climate resilience, reduce competition for land, and improve both energy and water-use efficiency. Recent advances in crop selection strategies, adaptive PV system designs, and smart irrigation technologies further strengthen the feasibility of these systems for Middle Eastern agricultural systems. Nevertheless, key challenges remain, including the need for region-specific design optimization, improved understanding of crop light requirements, and robust assessments of economic viability under diverse policy and market conditions. Overall, life cycle assessments and techno-economic analyses confirm the environmental and economic benefits of AV systems, especially for sustainable irrigation, agricultural productivity, and rural development in the Middle East context. This review provides strategic insights to support the sustainable deployment and scaling of agrivoltaic systems across Middle Eastern agricultural landscapes, informed by global experience. A dedicated regional assessment summarizes existing agrivoltaic pilots and feasibility studies across the Middle East and North Africa, highlighting technology choices, crop compatibility, and policy drivers. Full article

Agrivoltaic systems, which integrate solar energy generation with agricultural production, offer a promising solution to optimize land use efficiency. This work presents a case study for the assessment of an agrivoltaic pilot project in a small-scale solar farm operated by SOLENIUM in San Diego (Cesar, Colombia), located in the Colombian tropical dry forest. The project evaluated environmental conditions, selected melon and watermelon as shade-tolerant crops, and assessed technical challenges, including mechanization constraints. Preliminary results indicated that agrivoltaic systems can maintain agricultural productivity while generating renewable energy, with photosynthetically active radiation measurements averaging 1342 μmol/m²/s in cultivation areas. This case study demonstrates the viability of agrivoltaic systems as a scalable model for sustainable rural development in the Colombian tropical dry forest. Full article

Semitransparent perovskite photovoltaic (sPV) covers offer an attractive route for agrivoltaics, but their spectrally selective transmittance must be validated on plants cultivated under panel or in simulated conditions. Here, an AVA–MAPI perovskite module transmission profile was replicated using a programmable multi-channel LED platform and compared with a Reference McCree-adapted LED spectrum at identical photon flux density. Two lettuce cultivars (Lactuca sativa L.; ‘Canasta’ and ‘Trocadero’) were grown hydroponically in a light-sealed phytotron for 30 days (300 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹; 16/8 h photoperiod) under uniform temperature and humidity. Leaf gas exchange was quantified by fitting photosynthetic light-response curves, and plant performance was concurrently evaluated through growth metrics, biomass partitioning, and pigment-related traits (chlorophyll a/b, total carotenoids). The perovskite-emulated spectrum measurably reshaped net CO₂ assimilation across the PAR domain—yielding higher A_N at selected irradiances in post hoc contrasts—yet these physiological shifts did not translate into differences in leaf area, shoot or root biomass, or pigment concentrations—demonstrating spectral plasticity and agricultural compatibility of field-characterized perovskite transmission spectra. Overall, perovskite-emulated light sustained agronomically equivalent lettuce performance under moderate irradiance, supporting the feasibility of semitransparent perovskite PV covers, while underscoring the need for validation under natural sunlight. Full article

Agrivoltaics is a rapidly expanding technology thanks to its energy, agronomic, and microclimatic benefits, which have been demonstrated in a variety of climatic contexts around the world. This study presents the first systematic review exclusively focused on experimental agrivoltaics field studies, based on the analysis of 82 peer-reviewed articles. The aim is to provide a cross-study comparable synthesis of how shading from different photovoltaic (PV) technologies affects microclimate, crop yield, and crop quality. The reviewed systems include four main categories of PV modules: conventional, bifacial, semi-transparent/transparent, including spectrally selectivity modules and concentrating photovoltaic systems (CPV). To handle heterogeneity and improve comparability, results were normalised against open-field controls as relative percentage variations. The analysis reveals a high variability in results, strongly influenced by crop type, climate, level of shading, and reduction in PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation). Studies conducted with the same shade intensity but under different climatic conditions show contrasting results, suggesting that there is no universally optimal agrivoltaics configuration. Nevertheless, the review allows us to identify recurring patterns of compatibility between crops and photovoltaic technologies, providing useful guidance for choosing the most suitable technology based on climate, crop physiology, and production objectives. Full article

Agrivoltaics—the co-location of photovoltaic energy production with agriculture—offers a promising pathway to address growing pressures on land, food, and clean energy resources. This study evaluates the first agrivoltaic pilot installation in Jordan, located in Amman (935 m above sea level; hot-summer Mediterranean climate), during its first operational year. Two 11.1 kWp bifacial photovoltaic (PV) systems were compared: (i) a south-facing array tilted at 10°, and (ii) a vertical east–west “fence” configuration. The tilted system achieved an annual specific yield of 1962 kWh/kWp, approximately 35% higher than the 1288 kWh/kWp obtained from the vertical array. Seasonal variation was observed, with the performance gap widening to ~45% during winter and narrowing to ~22% in June. As expected, the vertical system exhibited more uniform diurnal output, enhanced early-morning and late-afternoon generation, and lower soiling losses. The light profiles measured for the year indicate that vertical systems barely impede the light requirements of crops, while the tilted system splits into distinct profiles for the intra-row area (akin to the vertical system) and sub-panel area, which is likely to support only low-light requirement crops. This configuration increases the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) by roughly 88% compared to a conventional ground-mounted system due to elevated structural costs. In contrast, the vertical east–west system provides an energy yield equivalent to about 33% of the land area at the tested configuration but achieves this without increasing the LCOE. These results highlight a fundamental trade-off: elevated tilted systems offer greater land-use efficiency but at higher cost, whereas vertical systems preserve cost parity at the expense of lower energy density. Full article

This article presents a methodology for assessing the ecosystem external costs linked to land-use changes caused by utility-scale photovoltaic systems using a regionalized life cycle approach. The core scientific challenge is to integrate a typically non-site-specific method—life cycle assessment—with a site-specific evaluation of ecosystem services affected by land-use changes. The methodology does not model specific agricultural practices. The approach is applied to three configurations of solar-tracking photovoltaic plants installed on arable land: ground-mounted photovoltaics, elevated agrivoltaics, and spaced agrivoltaics. For each configuration, the external costs or benefits per megawatt-hour (MWh) produced are estimated, allowing a comparative life cycle analysis. The findings show that the elevated agrivoltaic system is the only configuration resulting in a net loss of ecosystem service value, albeit marginal (−0.2 EUR/MWh). In contrast, the ground-mounted system yields a net benefit (approximately 1 EUR/MWh), followed by spaced agrivoltaics (0.1 EUR/MWh). These outcomes are mainly driven by the construction and operational phases, while the impacts from component production, transport, and end-of-life stages are significantly lower. The methodology offers a replicable framework for integrating the monetary evaluation of ecosystem services into life cycle assessments of land-intensive renewable energy systems. Full article

Agrivoltaic systems (AVs) combine agricultural production with photovoltaic energy generation, enabling the dual use of land resources. This approach has gained increasing attention as a promising strategy to address pressing social, environmental, and energy challenges. Although the global expansion of AVs is accelerating, empirical research remains limited—particularly regarding farmers’ perspectives on adopting such systems. This study investigates Greek farmers’ perceptions and attitudes toward the adoption of photovoltaic technologies in agricultural practices. For this purpose, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted on a sample of 287 participants selected using purposive convenience sampling, based on predefined inclusion criteria relevant to the objectives of the study. The data were analyzed using a binary logistic regression model to identify factors positively associated with farmers’ willingness to adopt AVs. The findings reveal that 46.3% of farmers expressed willingness to adopt AVs, indicating a moderate level of acceptance. The logistic regression results indicated that higher education levels (OR = 3.53, p = 0.007), membership in farmers’ organizations (OR = 2.00, p = 0.001), and familiarity with agro-energy concepts (OR = 3.49, p = 0.016) significantly increased farmers’ motivation to engage as renewable energy producers. The model demonstrates a moderate level of explanatory power (Nagelkerke R² = 0.37). The study’s findings provide valuable insights into the key factors influencing farmers’ willingness to adopt AVs, contributing to a deeper understanding of the decision-making processes involved. Based on these findings, it is recommended that agricultural policies and community-based renewable energy initiatives focus on targeted education and extension services, the strengthening of farmers’ organizations to facilitate collective decision-making, and the implementation of focused agro-energy information campaigns. Full article