A First Investigation of Agriculture Sector Perspectives on the Opportunities and Barriers for Agrivoltaics

Pascaris, Alexis S.; Schelly, Chelsea; Pearce, Joshua M.

doi:10.3390/agronomy10121885

A First Investigation of Agriculture Sector Perspectives on the Opportunities and Barriers for Agrivoltaics

Journal Article · Sat Nov 28 00:00:00 EST 2020 · Agronomy (Online)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10121885· OSTI ID:2395979

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Agrivoltaic systems are a strategic and innovative approach to combine solar photovoltaic (PV)-based renewable energy generation with agricultural production. Recognizing the fundamental importance of farmer adoption in the successful diffusion of the agrivoltaic innovation, this study investigates agriculture sector experts’ perceptions on the opportunities and barriers to dual land-use systems. Using in-depth, semistructured interviews, this study conducts a first study to identify challenges to farmer adoption of agrivoltaics and address them by responding to societal concerns. Results indicate that participants see potential benefits for themselves in combined solar and agriculture technology. The identified barriers to adoption of agrivoltaics, however, include: (i) desired certainty of long-term land productivity, (ii) market potential, (iii) just compensation and (iv) a need for predesigned system flexibility to accommodate different scales, types of operations, and changing farming practices. The identified concerns in this study can be used to refine the technology to increase adoption among farmers and to translate the potential of agrivoltaics to address the competition for land between solar PV and agriculture into changes in solar siting, farming practice, and land-use decision-making.

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Research Organization:: Michigan Technological Univ., Houghton, MI (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0008990

OSTI ID:: 2395979

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1810317

Journal Information:: Agronomy (Online), Journal Name: Agronomy (Online) Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 10; ISSN ABSGGL; ISSN 2073-4395

Publisher:: MDPI AGCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: Antigua and Barbuda

Language:: English

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A First Investigation of Agriculture Sector Perspectives on the Opportunities and Barriers for Agrivoltaics

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