Agrivoltaic programs achieve public favor over standard photo voltaic parks
by Robert Schreiber
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Could 21, 2025
Photovoltaic programs have gotten extra widespread in open landscapes, however public approval usually lags. A current research by the College of Bonn reveals that agrivoltaics-solar panels put in on farmland-are considerably extra accepted by the general public than customary photo voltaic parks.
Agrivoltaic programs combine photo voltaic arrays with lively agricultural use, corresponding to putting panels above vineyards, pastures, or crop fields. Whereas these installations could cut back crop yields, they will additionally carry added advantages. For instance, they might act as canopies to guard crops from excessive climate or function wind limitations, much like hedgerows.
The research concerned almost 2,000 respondents throughout Germany, chosen to replicate the nation’s demographic distribution. Individuals have been proven picture pairs evaluating agricultural land with and with out photo voltaic installations, together with eventualities with grazing cattle, wheat fields, and vineyards. Every situation was additionally matched towards photographs of standard photo voltaic parks in comparable settings.
Researchers then gauged individuals’ perceptions of visible attraction, leisure worth, and their willingness to pay a premium for electrical energy generated from these lands. Outcomes indicated that agrivoltaics constantly garnered extra favorable responses. About 44 p.c of individuals have been keen to pay extra for agrivoltaic electrical energy, in comparison with 29 p.c for power from customary photo voltaic parks. Solely 2.9 p.c expressed willingness to pay to stop agrivoltaics, whereas 4.8 p.c would fund opposition to traditional parks.
Though respondents typically discovered photo voltaic infrastructure detrimental to panorama aesthetics, agrivoltaics have been considered much less negatively-likely as a result of they merge power and meals manufacturing reasonably than displacing agriculture solely.
“Our survey is hypothetical-the individuals do not likely must spend any cash,” famous Prof. Dr. Matin Qaim of the College of Bonn, a co-author of the research. “Nonetheless, the outcomes permit us to conclude that agrivoltaics meets with larger acceptance among the many public than regular open-space photo voltaic programs.”
Nonetheless, sensible limitations stay. As ZEF researcher Hendrik Zeddies factors out, agrivoltaic programs are dearer and fewer productive than conventional setups. “With out subsidies, it is going to presumably not be attainable to put in many programs,” he added.
Analysis Report:Agrivoltaics increases public acceptance of solar energy production on agricultural land
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