Solar Photovoltaic Architecture and Agronomic Management in Agrivoltaic System: a Review
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sustainability Review Solar Photovoltaic Architecture and Agronomic Management in Agrivoltaic System: A Review Mohd Ashraf Zainol Abidin 1,2 , Muhammad Nasiruddin Mahyuddin 2,* and Muhammad Ammirrul Atiqi Mohd Zainuri 3 1 Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Perlis Branch, Arau Campus, Arau 02600, Perlis, Malaysia; [email protected] 2 School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Nibong Tebal 14300, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia 3 Department of Electrical, Electronic and Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600 UKM, Selanor, Malaysia; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Agrivoltaic systems (AVS) offer a symbiotic strategy for co-location sustainable renewable energy and agricultural production. This is particularly important in densely populated developing and developed countries, where renewable energy development is becoming more important; how- ever, profitable farmland must be preserved. As emphasized in the Food-Energy-Water (FEW) nexus, AVS advancements should not only focus on energy management, but also agronomic management (crop and water management). Thus, we critically review the important factors that influence the decision of energy management (solar PV architecture) and agronomic management in AV systems. The outcomes show that solar PV architecture and agronomic management advancements are reliant on (1) solar radiation qualities in term of light intensity and photosynthetically activate radiation (PAR), (2) AVS categories such as energy-centric, agricultural-centric, and agricultural-energy-centric, Citation: Zainol Abidin, M.A.; Mahyuddin, M.N.; Mohd Zainuri, and (3) shareholder perspective (especially farmers). Next, several adjustments for crop selection and M.A.A. Solar Photovoltaic management are needed due to light limitation, microclimate condition beneath the solar structure, Architecture and Agronomic and solar structure constraints. More importantly, a systematic irrigation system is required to Management in Agrivoltaic System: prevent damage to the solar panel structure. To summarize, AVS advancements should be care- A Review. Sustainability 2021, 13, 7846. fully planned to ensure the goals of reducing reliance on non-renewable sources, mitigating global https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147846 warming effects, and meeting the FEW initiatives. Academic Editor: Idiano D’Adamo Keywords: agrivoltaic system; solar photovoltaics; agronomic management; crop production; Food- Energy-Water nexus; sustainable integration Received: 10 June 2021 Accepted: 29 June 2021 Published: 14 July 2021 1. Introduction Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in The concept of integrating solar PV with agricultural produce, known as agrivoltaic published maps and institutional affil- system (AVS), was originally proposed by [1] back in 1982; however, this concept was iations. rarely discussed until the beginning of the new millennium. This agrivoltaism approach is derived from the intercropping method applied in the agricultural sector to increase the land equivalent ratio and total revenue [2–6]. AVS technology is gaining popularity due to its dependability in variable-scale applications. The development of commercial and research facilities around the world demonstrates the potential of this technology [5,7,8]. Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. The concept of the system utilizes the generation of electrical energy and the production of Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article agricultural products in the same area of production [6,9–12]. In other words, beneficial distributed under the terms and interaction, or symbiosis between these two productions in the same area, is created in conditions of the Creative Commons this way [2,3,8,13–16]. Solar production could also offset global energy demand if less than Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// 1% of cropland were converted to an AV system [17]. The integration of both productions creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ in the same area may reduce the efficiency of either solar energy generation, agricultural 4.0/). production, or both productions; however, the total revenue may be increased [7,15,18–21] Sustainability 2021, 13, 7846. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147846 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability Sustainability 2021, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 28 than 1% of cropland were converted to an AV system [17]. The integration of both pro‐ Sustainabilityductions2021 ,in13, 7846the same area may reduce the efficiency of either solar energy generation, ag2 of‐ 27 ricultural production, or both productions; however, the total revenue may be increased [7,15,18–21] as illustrated in Figure 1. Additionally, crop production consumes less than 1% of the total energyas generated illustrated in by Figure AVS1. Additionally, [10]. crop production consumes less than 1% of the total energy generated by AVS [10]. Figure 1. ComparisonFigure of 1. Comparisonefficiency oftraditional efficiency traditional farming farming versus versus AVS. AVS. (Source: (Source: [22]). [22]). 1.1. Motivation for the Development of Agrivoltaic System 1.1. Motivation for the Development of Agrivoltaic System There is a connection between sustainability and resilience, and COVID-19 has illus- There is a connectiontrated howbetween rapidly sustainability life can change. The and work resilience, of [23] demonstrates and COVID that the‐19 deployment has illus‐ of trated how rapidly lifenew can infrastructure change. The lowers work land-use of [23] availability, demonstrates and this element that the must deployment be managed prop- of erly. Despite the profound upheaval and uncertainty produced by the Covid-19 epidemic new infrastructure lowersin the energy land industry,‐use availability, which has forced and global this energy element consumption must tobe decline managed by 5% by properly. Despite the2020, profound renewables upheaval continue and to play uncertainty a critical part produced in all of our by circumstances, the Covid‐ with19 epi solar‐ demic in the energy industry,taking center which stage [has24]. Theforced rapid global development energy of solarconsumption farms raises to a newdecline threat by and 5% by 2020, renewablesfriction continue in terms to of land-useplay a forcritical electricity part production in all of whilstour circumstances, satisfying increasing with food demand. The amount of land required to establish large-scale solar farms has become a solar taking center stagesource [24]. of concern The rapid [8,13,25 –development27]. of solar farms raises a new threat and friction in terms of Currentland‐use studies for alsoelectricity show that production the environmental whilst factors satisfying that may influenceincreasing the ef- food demand. The amountficiency of of land photovoltaic required (PV) to panels establish are sometimes large‐scale ignored solar [12 farms,17,28–31 has]; however, become for AVS, these factors are very crucial [32,33]. For example, gravel underlay for solar PV a source of concern [8,13,25–27].sites may contribute to a heat island effect that increases the ambient temperature below Current studies alsothe PV show structure. that Thisthe environmental situation potentially factors reduces that the efficiencymay influence and life spanthe effi of the‐ ciency of photovoltaicsolar (PV) panel panels [3,10,11 ,34are,35 ].sometimes Simultaneously, ignored agricultural [12,17,28–31]; lands are shrinking however, due to for land reuse for new industry production, homes, and urban areas [8,10,36–39]. The summary AVS, these factors arereport very of crucial World Agriculture:[32,33]. For Towards example, 2015/2030, gravel released underlay by [ 40for], hassolar stated PV thatsites the may contribute to a heatglobal island demand effect for an agriculturalthat increases product the will ambient keep on increasing temperature every year. below Developed the PV structure. This situationcountries willpotentially suffer from reduces a high dependency the efficiency on agricultural and life imports, span and of food the insecurity solar in developing countries will persist without a significant increase in local production. panel [3,10,11,34,35]. TheseSimultaneously, conflicts are compounded agricultural by the lands fact that are the shrinking amount of arabledue to land land available reuse per for new industry production,capita decreased homes, by 48 and percent urban between areas 1961 [8,10,36–39]. and 2016, owing The to the summary global population report in- of World Agriculture:crease Towards [41]. Thus, 2015/2030, it is believed released that the solution by [40], of AVShas technologiesstated that enables the global the possibility de‐ mand for an agriculturalof resolving product the will competing keep interest on increasing between the every two sectors’ year. Developed requirements while countries meeting the demand [14,21,42–44]. will suffer from a high dependency on agricultural imports, and food insecurity in devel‐ oping countries will persist without a significant increase in local production. These con‐ flicts are compounded by the fact that the amount of arable land available per capita de‐ creased by 48 percent between 1961 and 2016, owing to the global population increase [41]. Thus, it is believed that the solution of AVS technologies enables the possibility of resolving the competing interest between