Developments in agrivoltaics: achieving synergies by combining plants with solar photovoltaic power systems

Agrivoltaics are renewable energy systems that combine food production with electricity generation from solar photovoltaics (PV). Research and development on agrivoltaics has increased steadily in recent years to address the questions: "How is crop production affected under PV panels?" and "How can energy and food production be co-optimised on the same land?" Beneath solar PV panels, crop production can increase, decrease or remain unaltered depending on the crop species, the design of the PV system and the local environmental conditions. In dry weather and high radiation conditions, agrivoltaics can increase water use efficiency and therefore favour enhanced crop production levels. Simulation models, validated for specific conditions, would be useful to optimise agrivoltaic systems, to define optimal design solutions, to identify the most suitable crop species and to assess agronomic management strategies. Future research should develop modelling platforms that could aid agrivoltaic optimisation, and expand the focus beyond energy and food production to include farm income, food quality, biodiversity and landscape value.