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Economic impact of substituting solar photovoltaic electric production for tobacco farming

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  • Krishnan, R.
  • Pearce, J.M.

Abstract

Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology represents a promising method to prevent dangerous global climate change, however full solar penetration demands substantial surface areas, possibly encroaching on arable land. To avoid repeating the mistakes of previous attempts to convert agricultural land to energy, arable land currently used for crops with known health hazards can be considered for conversion. Tobacco is the leading cause of avoidable death globally, and despite increasingly stringent controls on tobacco, economics provides an incentive to continue tobacco production. However, with the economics of PV ever improving, this study investigates the potential economic benefits of photovoltaic conversion of farms during tobacco's decline. This study analyzes key factors influencing conventional tobacco farming economics in the U.S. over a sensitivity of realistic future values. Then tobacco crop profit is compared to a sensitivity analysis covering the profits of solar PV farming on the same land. The results show that considering existing electric prices, escalation rates, and installed costs, PV farm substitution for tobacco farming makes economic sense in many U.S. cases already. In a case study of North Carolina, 30GW of PV power capacity was found to be economically viable on existing tobacco farms and if conversion took place over 2000 premature deaths could be prevented from pollution reduction alone. This meets the State's peak summer loads. Land use policies are discussed to facilitate such land use conversions for the benefit of the economy, the environment and human health.

Suggested Citation

  • Krishnan, R. & Pearce, J.M., 2018. "Economic impact of substituting solar photovoltaic electric production for tobacco farming," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 503-509.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:72:y:2018:i:c:p:503-509
    DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2018.01.010
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    2. Zhao, Qin & Zhang, Houcheng & Hu, Ziyang & Hou, Shujin, 2021. "Performance evaluation of a new hybrid system consisting of a photovoltaic module and an absorption heat transformer for electricity production and heat upgrading," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    3. Pascaris1, Alexis S. & Schelly, Chelsea & Rouleau, Mark & Pearce, Joshua M., 2021. "Do Agrivoltaics Improve Public Support for Solar Photovoltaic Development? Survey Says: Yes!," SocArXiv efasx, Center for Open Science.
    4. Tercan, Emre & Eymen, Abdurrahman & Urfalı, Tuğrul & Saracoglu, Burak Omer, 2021. "A sustainable framework for spatial planning of photovoltaic solar farms using GIS and multi-criteria assessment approach in Central Anatolia, Turkey," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    5. Walston, Leroy J. & Li, Yudi & Hartmann, Heidi M. & Macknick, Jordan & Hanson, Aaron & Nootenboom, Chris & Lonsdorf, Eric & Hellmann, Jessica, 2021. "Modeling the ecosystem services of native vegetation management practices at solar energy facilities in the Midwestern United States," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 47(C).
    6. Uzair Jamil & Joshua M. Pearce, 2022. "Energy Policy for Agrivoltaics in Alberta Canada," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-31, December.

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