Solar technology could meet UK’s electricity needs without sacrificing farmland

Bold authorities plans for the enlargement of photo voltaic farms might be achieved with out sacrificing farmland, in accordance with new analysis on a expertise that would meet the UK’s electrical energy wants 4 instances over.

The College of Sheffield examine assessed how agrivoltaics expertise—integrating solar panels into farmland in a means that maintains agricultural actions—might assist the UK attain its photo voltaic vitality targets (PV) and meet its dedication to achieve internet zero by 2050. The analysis is published within the journal Utilized Power.

Present authorities plans to considerably enhance ground-mounted photo voltaic parks, that are already in use throughout the UK, have confirmed contentious and unpopular with farmers and the general public alike. Issues in regards to the lack of high-quality agricultural landpotential impacts on meals manufacturing and value of dwelling, and the visible influence on landscapes are amongst components fueling the criticism.

The Nice Britain-focused examine demonstrates that the deployment of agrivoltaics, which might see photo voltaic photovoltaic panels put in in methods to permit for farming actions beneath or between panels, might allow the simultaneous manufacturing of crops, livestock and renewable vitality. Agrivoltaics has such excessive protection potential that it might meet UK authorities PV targets by itself, whereas avoiding land use conflicts.

Professor Sue Hartley, Vice-President for Analysis and Innovation on the College of Sheffield who co-authored the examine, stated, “The Authorities and photo voltaic builders have bold plans for the enlargement of photo voltaic farms however these threat the lack of agricultural land wanted for meals manufacturing at a time when international meals safety is threatened by geopolitical uncertainty and local weather change.

“Agrivoltaic expertise is a possible means out of this dilemma. It permits us to make use of the identical space of land for each meals and clear vitality manufacturing, addressing a number of the criticism leveled at photo voltaic farms. This expertise is in common use in lots of areas of the world, together with areas like Scandinavia with much less daylight than the UK, however has not but been adopted right here.

“Our research identifies the areas in the UK where this technology can be most effectively deployed, both to mitigate land use conflicts and deliver the UK’s energy needs.”

Areas recognized for the efficient deployment of agrivoltaics embrace Cambridgeshire, Essex, Lincolnshire, and the broader East and South East of England. A number of components contribute to this suitability, together with the provision of flat land, the extent of present agricultural use, grid connectivity and the prevalence of photo voltaic radiation.

A analysis challenge led by the College of Sheffield beforehand noticed agrivoltaic techniques put in on farmland in Tanzania and Kenya. Not solely did the expertise produce low carbon electrical energy, it was discovered to considerably increase crop yields and preserve water in areas which can be acutely weak to the impacts of local weather change.

Researchers discovered that sure crops, comparable to maize, Swiss chard and beans, thrived below the partial shade offered by photo voltaic panels. The shade supplied additional advantages: it decreased water evaporation for extra environment friendly water use and the panels themselves offered rainwater to complement irrigation wants.

The brand new examine on the expertise’s UK potential goals to tell land use coverage debates by selling multifunctional land use and inspiring extra analysis to help and information the event of home agrivoltaics.

Co-author Dr. Richard Randle-Boggis, who carried out agrivoltaics analysis on the College of Sheffield and is now a analysis scientist at SINTEF, stated, “Analysis on agrivoltaics is in depth in mainland Europe, however little or no has been carried out within the UK.

“Our subsequent step must be subject experiments to check the efficiency of the techniques, examine completely different designs with completely different crops and higher perceive the views of native communities and different stakeholders.

“The loss of farmland is typically a major reason communities oppose solar park development in their local areas. Our research takes a leading step in demonstrating where solar parks could be developed alongside agricultural activities so that farmland is not lost.”

The examine was co-authored by Talitha Neesham-McTiernan, Alastair Buckley and Sue Hartley from the College of Sheffield and Richard Randle-Boggis from SINTEF.