Agrivoltaic farming
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: News on Air
Context: The Seventh Session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) concluded in New Delhi, highlighting sustainable energy and agrivoltaic farming a practice that combines agriculture with solar energy generation on the same land.
About Agrivoltaic Farming:
• Definition: Agrivoltaic farming is the simultaneous use of land for agriculture and solar energy generation, allowing crops to grow beneath solar panels.
• Agrivoltaic farming working:
• Elevated panels: Solar panels are raised 2-3 meters, providing space for crops to grow beneath with adequate light and air.
• Angle and Spacing: Panels are angled and spaced to optimize sunlight for both solar energy and crop growth.
• Shade and Protection: Panels offer shade, reducing heat stress and protecting crops from harsh weather.
• Water conservation: Shading lowers evaporation, conserving soil moisture and reducing water needs.
• Greenhouse integration: Panels on greenhouse roofs allow light/rain for crops while generating energy.
• Dual harvesting: Utilizes land for both solar power and agriculture, maximizing energy and food production.
• Significance of Agrivoltaic Farming: Enhanced Land Use: Maximizes land efficiency by combining agriculture and solar energy production on the same land. Climate resilience: Provides shade to crops, reducing heat stress and water loss, and protecting from extreme weather. Renewable energy generation: Contributes to solar power expansion, supporting climate goals and energy needs. Increased food security: Supports sustainable food production for a growing population without needing additional land. Economic benefits: Enables farmers to diversify income through both crop production and solar energy revenue.
• Enhanced Land Use: Maximizes land efficiency by combining agriculture and solar energy production on the same land.
• Climate resilience: Provides shade to crops, reducing heat stress and water loss, and protecting from extreme weather.
• Renewable energy generation: Contributes to solar power expansion, supporting climate goals and energy needs.
• Increased food security: Supports sustainable food production for a growing population without needing additional land.
• Economic benefits: Enables farmers to diversify income through both crop production and solar energy revenue.
Insta links:
• Challenges-faced-by-farm-sector-in-India