Another study has shown that combining solar panels with agriculture can significantly boost crop yields, while conserving water and generating renewable energy for areas vulnerable to climate change, a new study has shown.
Research led by the University of Sheffield reveals that ‘agrivoltaics’—the practice of using the same land for farming and producing solar electricity—leads to greater crop yields with less water, compared to crops grown in open fields.
The international team, which included the University of Arizona, along with the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), found certain crops, such as maize, Swiss chard and beans, thrived under the partial shade provided by solar panels.
The shade helped to reduce water loss through evaporation, while additionally using the rainwater harvested from the panels to supplement irrigation needs.
“Imagine a future where farms are powered by clean energy and crops are more resilient to climate change,” said senior author of the study, Professor Sue Hartley from the University of Sheffield’s School of Biosciences and Vice-President for Research and Innovation.
“Agrivoltaics can make this vision a reality by offering a sustainable solution to the pressing challenges of food insecurity, water scarcity, and energy.”
“By shading crops with solar panels, we created a microclimate that helped certain crops produce more, but they were also better able to survive heat waves—and the shade helped conserve water, which is crucial in a region severely threatened by climate change.”
Beyond increased crop yields and water conservation, the study showed agrivoltaics can also provide a reliable source of clean energy for rural communities. Off-grid solar power systems can power homes, businesses, and agricultural equipment, improving the quality of life for many.
Additionally, vegetation growing underneath a solar panel has been shown in multiple studies to keep the panel cooler, thereby allowing it to generate electricity more efficiently.
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“By combining solar panels and farming, we were able to get more from the land,” said lead author of the study, Dr. Richard Randle-Boggis, who conducted the research and is now a research scientist at SINTEF.
“This multifunctional approach shows the potential to boost food production and clean electricity generation while reducing the need for irrigation.”
Check out a planning guide entitled: Better Biodiversity on Solar Farms, that shows how solar farms, often criticized as land-hogging eyesores, can be set up in a way that not only makes room for native biodiversity, but contributes actively to its flourishing.
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