Agrivoltaics and Food Security: Meeting Rising Energy Demand

Agrivoltaics is increasingly seen as a solution to balance rising energy demand with food security needs. The concept involves using the same land area for solar photovoltaic power generation and agriculture through elevated solar panel structures.

Agrivoltaics:

Dimension	Key Details
Origin	The term agrivoltaics is coined in 1981 by German scientists Adolf Goetzberger and Armin Zastrow.
Definition	Agrivoltaics provides for the simultaneous use of areas of land for both solar photovoltaic power generation and agriculture.
Mechanism	Solar panels are mounted on elevated structures, which authorises farming machinery to operate beneath them and crops to grow in partial shade.
Benefits	Benefits comprise improved efficiency due to dual land use, increased farmer income, and favourable microclimatic conditions reducing water loss and heat stress.