Swansea study sheds light on agrivoltaics efficiency

Known as agrivoltaics, combining solar PV with pasture and arable land has become more common in recent times, with farmers looking to maximise land use and enhance sustainability. But as the practice has become more widespread, concerns have been raised as to how this dual-use approach will impact agriculture and food security, as well as how best to integrate solar PV into farmland. 

The new study from Swansea, published in Solar RRL, investigated the effect of semi-transparent PV materials placed over crops and grass. As part of the research, the team developed a free software tool that predicts the light transmission, absorption, and power generation of different PV materials virtually anywhere on the globe using geographical, physical, and electrical measurements.

“This technology, which allows us to compare many types of PV material, could help us determine how we balance food production and renewable energy generation,” said lead author Austin Kay, a PhD candidate at Swansea University.