Growing Pains: Lessons Learned in Agri-PV - Webinar Recap Q&A

Introduction: What is Agri-PV

Agri-PV can be understood best in terms of a purpose-driven solution to the future challenges facing our global food and energy system.

Firstly, the growing scarcity of land. Instead of solar PV and agriculture competing, Agri-PV involves dual and simultaneous land use for both energy generation and crop production with minimal impact on crop and soil yield.

Secondly, efficiency and co-benefits. Both agriculture and the solar industry can co-benefit from this arrangement. Research has shown that certain crops thrive better in an Agri-PV arrangement as compared to traditional methods due to the shading and climate protection provided. In terms of solar, the increase in land use efficiency can allow for the continued expansion of PV energy generation to spur the clean energy transition.

Finally, sustainability, resilience, and future-proofing. With climate change, the incidence of crop damage caused by an increase in extreme weather events is growing annually - Agri-PV provides then an additional level of crop protection while also generating a passive income in terms of energy production to ensure that farms of the future are able to adapt and grow.

Guidelines and Key Considerations

These are structured according to the key themes raised by the webinar speakers and questions from the audience. This is by no means an exhaustive list of key considerations, and we will explore more to come at our summit on the 4th of October.