Agrivoltaics

The Italian authorities have chosen 540 projects, totaling 1.5 GW, in the nation’s first agrivoltaics tender.

French agrivoltaics company Sun’Agri says that two of its facilities increased grape yields by 20% to 60% in 2024, compared to areas without solar panels. The PV modules helped regulate temperature fluctuations, reducing summer heat peaks and winter temperature declines.

Colombian researchers have designed an agrivoltaic system integrating hydroponic growing towers. The modular array, consisting of stackable 20 cm rings, creates a structure up to 2.5 meters tall, optimized for cultivating approximately 80 plants per square meter.

The Seventh Session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly, to be held in New Delhi from Nov. 3-6, will deliberate on ISA initiatives to improve energy access, security and transition among its member countries.

Yashika Energy Systems has partnered Germany’s Next2Sun and Wattkraft India to launch pilot projects, ranging from 100 kWp to 500 kWp, integrating vertical bifacial solar technology with agriculture.

Italy’s Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) says it has received 643 bids totaling 1.7 GW in its first agrivoltaic tender. About 56% of the proposals have come from the country’s sunny southern regions.

A new report by CEEW states that India’s unconstrained RE potential exceeds 24 TW (terawatts), but not all of it is achievable. Even reaching the 7 TW required to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070 will require a holistic approach to addressing challenges such as land access, climate risks, land conflicts, and population density.

“Solar manufacturing and technology must be democratized to help developing countries. Empowering the least developed countries and small island developing states should be a top priority,” said prime minister Narendra Modi in his inaugural address at the first International Solar Festival 2024.

A BloombergNEF study estimates India’s energy sector investment and spending under its net-zero scenario at $12.4 trillion over 2024-50, 34% (or about $3 trillion) higher than in the economic transition scenario.

Agrivoltaics, the innovative practice of co-locating agriculture and photovoltaic (PV) systems, is revolutionizing sustainable land use and energy production. By harnessing the synergy between agriculture and solar energy, agrivoltaics offers a transformative solution to address the challenges of food security, water scarcity, and climate change. This article explores the burgeoning agrivoltaics market, its potential benefits, challenges, and future outlook.