Agro-Photovoltaics and Food-Energy Security: Evaluating Dual Land-Use Dynamics in Semi-Arid Climates

Abstract

Agro-photovoltaics (Agri-PV) represents an innovative and sustainable approach to addressing the interconnected challenges of food production, renewable energy generation, and land-use efficiency, particularly in semi-arid climatic regions. Increasing population pressure, climate change, water scarcity, and growing energy demands have intensified the competition for agricultural land and natural resources. Conventional solar photovoltaic installations often require extensive land areas, potentially reducing the availability of land for agricultural activities. Agro-photovoltaic systems offer an alternative by integrating solar panels with agricultural production on the same land, enabling simultaneous electricity generation and crop cultivation. This study evaluates the dual land-use dynamics of agro-photovoltaic systems in semi-arid climates, focusing on their effects on crop productivity, photovoltaic energy generation, water-use efficiency, microclimatic conditions, and overall food-energy security.