Photovoltaics and Agriculture Nexus: Exploring the Influence of Agrivoltaics on Food Production and Electricity Generation

Photovoltaic (PV) installations contribute to more sustainable solutions in satisfying clean energy requirements and are essential to global efforts to mitigate climate change. The PV development has extensive space requirements, complicated by the increasing competition for land due to rising population growth and food demand. By installing solar panels on agricultural land, agrivoltaic (APV) offers a resource-efficient solution to the persistent problem of competition for arable lands. This study presents a systematic review of the impact of APV applications on crop yields, agricultural product quality, plant growth microclimate, power generation, human comfort level, economic benefits, and social welfare. In total, 138 APV studies were reviewed in five typical agricultural scenarios, including open-field farming, greenhouse, aquaculture, livestock farming, and forestry, and 34 articles summarized the main metrics for evaluating APV performance. The majority of studies indicate positive impacts of APV on open-field agricultural practices. APV coverage of less than 20% on the greenhouse roof has minimal adverse effects. Livestock farming APV helps reduce heat stress and improve animal welfare. Deploying APV panels in aquaculture fishery mitigates the rise in water temperature and improves water quality. The quantitative analysis and investigation of the impact of APV on agricultural production in this study help develop efficient APV systems worldwide.