Politecnico di Milano explores international potential of agrivoltaics for land use concord
by Erica Marchand
Paris, France (SPX) Apr 23, 2025
A analysis staff from the Politecnico di Milano has introduced new insights into how agrivoltaic programs might resolve rising tensions over land use between agricultural manufacturing and photo voltaic vitality growth. Led by Maddalena Curioni, Nikolas Galli, Giampaolo Manzolini, and Maria Cristina Rulli, the research demonstrates that integrating photovoltaic panels with crop cultivation can considerably mitigate land-use battle whereas sustaining meals output.
Revealed within the journal Earth’s Future, the research highlights that between 13% and 16% of present ground-mounted photo voltaic installations have displaced former farmland, underscoring the competitors for arable land. In distinction, the researchers suggest that deploying agrivoltaic programs on between 22% and 35% of non-irrigated agricultural land might allow twin use with out considerably affecting crop yields.
Utilizing a spatial agro-hydrological mannequin, the researchers simulated how 22 crop varieties reply to various levels of photo voltaic shading from photovoltaic panels. Their simulations lined a broad vary of climates and geographies, producing a world suitability map for agrivoltaic deployment. The outcomes underscore the feasibility of this strategy in lots of areas, particularly these with suitable crops and reasonable photo voltaic depth.
“Agrivoltaics can’t be utilized in all places, however in accordance with our outcomes, it might be attainable to mix cultivation and vitality manufacturing in lots of areas of the world with out vital reductions in yield,” stated Nikolas Galli, researcher on the Glob3Science Lab and co-author of the research.
Giampaolo Manzolini, professor within the Division of Power, famous extra advantages: “Utilizing the land for each cultivation and photovoltaic programs will increase general output per occupied floor space whereas lowering manufacturing prices. As well as, putting in crops beneath the photovoltaic panels reduces the panel working temperature and will increase their effectivity.”
“This know-how might assist scale back land competitors whereas bettering the sustainability of agricultural and vitality programs,” added Maria Cristina Rulli, who coordinated the analysis.
The staff emphasizes that their findings might inform strategic coverage choices and funding methods geared toward maximizing land productiveness whereas supporting each meals safety and renewable vitality targets.
Analysis Report:Global Land-Water Competition and Synergy Between Solar Energy and Agriculture
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