Agrivoltaics: a paradigm for sustainabledual land use – an overview
¹Universidad de Medellín, Facultad de Ingenierías, Grupo de Investigación en Energía - GRINEN, Carrera 87 N°30 – 65, Medellín, Colombia
²Universidad de Medellín, Facultad de Ingenierías, Grupo de Investigación en Energía - GRINEN, Estudiante Ingeniería en Energía, Carrera 87 N°30 – 65, Medellín, Colombia
³Fachhochschule Dortmund, Mechanical Engineering, Sonnenstraße 96, DE44139, Dortmund, Germany
⁴RV College of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Mysore Rd, RV Vidyaniketan, Post, Bengaluru, IN560059 Karnataka, India
*Correspondence: caarredondo@udemedellin.edu.co
Abstract:
Agrivoltaic systems is an emerging solution that combines agricultural production with photovoltaic energy generation on the same area. This paper synthesizes findings from approximately 251 peer-reviewed studies, technical reports, and real-world applications to explore the classification, benefits, and implementation of agrivoltaics systems globally. Case studies from Japan, France, Africa, and Latin America reveal yield increases above 10% for certain crops under partial shading and energy production outputs of up to 1.5 MW ha-1, depending on the panel type and configuration. The overview also examines key technological developments, such as bifacial modules and smart irrigation, which improve efficiency and resource management. Additionally, it discusses the economic, environmental, and social benefits and identifies the main barriers to widespread adoption. By evaluating current challenges and future perspectives, this overview provides a comprehensive synthesis of how agrivoltaic systems contribute to sustainable energy and food production, highlighting their global relevance, integrating emerging technologies, and emphasizing the policy frameworks that support successful deployment.
Key words:
agrivoltaics, climate resilience, dual land use, energy transition, photovoltaic systems, sustainable agriculture