As global industries aim for net-zero emissions, there’s an immediate necessity to reduce emissions across various sectors. Agriculture is a significant focus area, as it contributes to nearly 22% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions.

An effective method to decarbonize agriculture is by utilizing solar panels, commonly known as photovoltaics (PVs), within crop fields, greenhouses, and livestock areas. This practice, referred to as agrivoltaics, allows farmers to lower their carbon footprint while maintaining food production.

Agrivoltaics tackle one of the key criticisms often aimed at solar energy: the claim that solar farms “occupy” extensive farmland that could be utilized for agriculture. In truth, solar farms occupy only 0.15% of the total land in the UK, a negligible amount compared to the 70% of land designated for agriculture.

The most basic form of an agrivoltaic system involves placing conventional crystalline silicon PVs (the most prevalent type of solar panel) within fields shared with livestock. This diversification method has gained traction recently for three main reasons.

Firstly, it enhances biodiversity as fields are not solely dedicated to one type of crop (monoculture); they benefit from crop rotation and are not just used for silage harvesting. Secondly, it increases productivity since livestock benefit from shade and healthier pasture growth.

Ultimately, the solar farm reduces maintenance costs as livestock naturally keep the grass length in check, all while the solar panels generate clean, local energy.

However, improper installation of agrivoltaics can present challenges. A significant concern in fields with crops is achieving the right balance between the sunlight requirements of crops and those of solar panels. Crops need light to thrive, and if solar panels block excessive light, they may negatively impact crop yields.

An agrivoltaic canopy installed in France. Image: Shutterstock

This balance varies by region. In areas with fewer sunny days, like the UK, solar panels must allow more light to filter through. In contrast, sunnier places such as Spain or Italy may benefit from some shading for crops to reduce heat stress during the hot summer months. Achieving the correct balance is crucial, depending on local conditions, crop types, and pollinator needs like those of bees.

Furthermore, the selection of PV materials complicates matters. Traditional solar panels may not always be suitable as they often filter out essential light wavelengths necessary for plant growth.

Innovative materials, such as organic semiconductors and perovskites, offer a solution, as they can be designed to transmit the required light for crops while still generating energy. Unlike traditional inorganic semiconductors, which are primarily metallic crystal structures, organic semiconductors comprise mostly carbon and hydrogen. Perovskites, however, combine both organic and inorganic semiconductor properties.

In fact, there are countless material combinations to explore, with extensive scientific research delving into various potentials. Identifying the optimal combination can be a complex task.

This is where computational tools prove invaluable. Instead of testing each material in real-world conditions – a process that can be time-consuming and costly – researchers can use simulations to forecast performance. These models help in identifying the best materials suited for specific crops and climates, thus conserving both time and resources.

The Tool

We have developed an open-source tool designed to evaluate various PV materials, facilitating the identification of the best options for agrivoltaics. This tool employs geographic data alongside realistic simulations of performance metrics for different PV materials.

The tool assesses how light penetrates and reflects off these materials, in addition to evaluating other crucial performance indicators such as voltage and power output. It can also integrate laboratory measurements of PV materials and relate them to actual environmental conditions.

Utilizing this tool, we modeled the power generation capacity of different PV materials per square meter throughout the year across different regions while measuring how much light could permeate these materials to ensure adequate crop growth.

An agrivoltaic installation over raspberry crops in the Netherlands. Image: Shutterstock

By performing these simulations for various materials, we were able to identify the most suitable options for different crops and climates.

Tools like ours could play a crucial role in helping to decarbonize the agriculture sector by guiding the development of agrivoltaic systems. Future research could combine these simulations with evaluations of economic and environmental impacts, assisting in understanding the energy output of solar panels throughout their operational lifespan in comparison to the resources and costs associated with their production.

Ultimately, our tool could support researchers and policymakers in choosing the most efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable strategies for decarbonizing agriculture, helping us move closer to achieving global net-zero emissions.

Austin Kay is a researcher focused on sustainable advanced materials at the Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials at Swansea University.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.