In the 21st century, our world faces interconnected challenges, including potential energy shortages, increasing food insecurity, and an unpredictable climate. By 2050, we will need to significantly increase energy and food production to accommodate the growing global population, which is slated to exceed 10 billion by 2080.
I am a retired engineer; and a solar advocate – where it makes sense. For cherry tomatoes, some peppers, and select other crops, agrivoltaics should flourish. Outside of those niches, I suspect the upfront costs for elevated mounting structures will put off most farmers. And unless the farmers shift their field work to nighttime (and their own sleep time to days) – so they can charge the vehicle battery packs directly during the day – it will put even more pressure on upfront costs, and hamper adoption.
We need to develop innovative models for agrivoltaics. One such approach could be to develop an energy system that allows electric tractors to use electricity produced by vertical PV panels which are installed between groups of cultivated rows. Power from panels on rows (that will be, or have already been) passed by the tractor, goes to direct self-consumption on the farm, or to the grid. Power from the string(s) immediately next to the tractor, goes to powering the tractor. Now this approach would not be doable today. As with other approaches, technology development is needed (for this approach, safe power transfer, power management, and more, would be needed). But it is an example of how, I believe, development in agrivoltaics needs to be handled going forward.