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Interplay between the potential of photovoltaic systems and agricultural land use

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  • Dias, Luís
  • Gouveia, João Pedro
  • Lourenço, Paulo
  • Seixas, Júlia

Abstract

The recent decrease in solar photovoltaic (PV) investment cost has transformed the attractiveness of the technology. Southern Europe has one of the highest levels of solar radiation in the world, and policy makers are very keen to take full advantage of this resource for electricity and heat production. However, physiographic characteristics and specific land uses (e.g. agro-forestry and nature conservation) present important spatial constraints. This paper proposes a methodology for the evaluation of utility-scale solar PV projects’ (>1 MW) technical potential. The municipality of Évora (Portugal) was used as a case study, considering topographical features and spatial planning regulations. Three compatible scenarios for solar PV farms and other competing land uses were studied. The assessment was carried out using a geographic information system and statistical tools. It was conducted for four sizes of PV project (1, 10, 20 and 30 MW) consisting of two different technology types: concentrated PV and crystalline-silicon tracking PV. Concentrated PV 1 MW projects were found to have greater adaptability for use in available areas dispersed throughout the territory, while preserving land for agriculture and nature conservation. The scenario with land primacy for agricultural purposes reduced PV technical potential by more than half (from 2494 to 1116 MW). Nevertheless, the remaining potential was sufficient to cover substantial shares of local annual electricity consumption. The results provided support for future spatial planning regulations and local sustainable energy action plans.

Suggested Citation

  • Dias, Luís & Gouveia, João Pedro & Lourenço, Paulo & Seixas, Júlia, 2019. "Interplay between the potential of photovoltaic systems and agricultural land use," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 725-735.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:81:y:2019:i:c:p:725-735
    DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2018.11.036
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    9. 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.
    10. Fortes, Patrícia & Simoes, Sofia G. & Amorim, Filipa & Siggini, Gildas & Sessa, Valentina & Saint-Drenan, Yves-Marie & Carvalho, Sílvia & Mujtaba, Babar & Diogo, Paulo & Assoumou, Edi, 2022. "How sensitive is a carbon-neutral power sector to climate change? The interplay between hydro, solar and wind for Portugal," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PB).
    11. 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).
    12. Li, Xiaochun & He, Ze & Xia, Siyou & Yang, Yu, 2024. "Greenness change associated with construction and operation of photovoltaic solar energy in China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    13. Sandro Sacchelli & Valerii Havrysh & Antonina Kalinichenko & Dariusz Suszanowicz, 2022. "Ground-Mounted Photovoltaic and Crop Cultivation: A Comparative Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-20, July.
    14. Sofia Spyridonidou & Eva Loukogeorgaki & Dimitra G. Vagiona & Teresa Bertrand, 2022. "Towards a Sustainable Spatial Planning Approach for PV Site Selection in Portugal," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-22, November.
    15. Mohd Ashraf Zainol Abidin & Muhammad Nasiruddin Mahyuddin & Muhammad Ammirrul Atiqi Mohd Zainuri, 2021. "Solar Photovoltaic Architecture and Agronomic Management in Agrivoltaic System: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-27, July.
    16. Joshua M. Pearce, 2022. "Agrivoltaics in Ontario Canada: Promise and Policy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-20, March.
    17. Heinrichs, H.U. & Mourao, Z. & Venghaus, S. & Konadu, D. & Gillessen, B. & Vögele, S. & Linssen, J. & Allwood, J. & Kuckshinrichs, W. & Robinius, M. & Stolten, D., 2021. "Analysing the water and land system impacts of Germany's future energy system," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    18. Junedi, M.M. & Ludin, N.A. & Hamid, N.H. & Kathleen, P.R. & Hasila, J. & Ahmad Affandi, N.A., 2022. "Environmental and economic performance assessment of integrated conventional solar photovoltaic and agrophotovoltaic systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    19. Teodoro Semeraro & Roberta Aretano & Amilcare Barca & Alessandro Pomes & Cecilia Del Giudice & Elisa Gatto & Marcello Lenucci & Riccardo Buccolieri & Rohinton Emmanuel & Zhi Gao & Alessandra Scognamig, 2020. "A Conceptual Framework to Design Green Infrastructure: Ecosystem Services as an Opportunity for Creating Shared Value in Ground Photovoltaic Systems," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-28, July.
    20. Edouard, Sylvain & Combes, Didier & Van Iseghem, Mike & Ng Wing Tin, Marion & Escobar-Gutiérrez, Abraham J., 2023. "Increasing land productivity with agriphotovoltaics: Application to an alfalfa field," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 329(C).
    21. Jung, Jaehoon & Han, SangUk & Kim, Byungil, 2019. "Digital numerical map-oriented estimation of solar energy potential for site selection of photovoltaic solar panels on national highway slopes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C), pages 57-68.
    22. 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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