Planning for Future Solar Farm Development in North Carolina: A Geographic Food Energy-Water Approach

Curtis, Scott; Etheridge, J. R.; Malali, Praveen; Peralta, Ariane L.; Filho, Faete

doi:10.1353/sgo.2020.0004

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…5). The total displaced water use was 8 times the O&M use for those arrays, thus installing solar PV in water scarce regions has significant potential to reduce water use, which bolsters findings from previous studies [63][64][65][66][67][68] . This analysis does not incorporate the additional hydrologic effects of modifying surface energy and water budgets, including reducing evapotranspiration and the potential for increased groundwater recharge 22,[69][70][71][72][73][74] .…”

Section: The Potential For Water Sustainability With Agrisolar Co-loc...supporting

confidence: 75%

From Fields to Photovoltaics: Effects of Agrisolar Co-Location on Food, Energy, Water, and Economic Security

Stid,

Shukla,

Kendall

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Achieving sustainable net-zero energy production requires understanding how solar PV installations affect the landscape and its critical resources. To enhance this understanding, we investigate agrisolar co-location, which is land that is broadly co-managed for agricultural production, solar photovoltaic electricity production, and ecosystem services. We present a food, energy, water, and economic impact analysis of agricultural output offset by agrisolar co-location for 925 arrays (2.53 GWp covering 39.3 km2) spanning the California Central Valley. We find that agrisolar co-location displaces a significant amount of food production. However, agrisolar co-location also increases economic security for farmers and likely enhances water sustainability, and thus future agricultural production, by reducing irrigation water use and facilitating the fallowing of irrigated land. Given the unprecedented pace of solar PV expansion globally, these results highlight the need for a deeper understanding of the multifaceted outcomes of agricultural and solar PV co-location decisions.

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Section: The Potential For Water Sustainability With Agrisolar Co-loc...supporting

confidence: 75%

From Fields to Photovoltaics: Effects of Agrisolar Co-Location on Food, Energy, Water, and Economic Security

Stid,

Shukla,

Kendall

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In fact, over 80% of utility-scale solar arrays are situated on what is considered agricultural land [52]. Another relevant issue in North Carolina is water quality; approximately 58% of the state's waterbodies were considered impaired in 2020 [53]. Integrating solar panels on agricultural land surrounding impaired waterbodies may be a means to reduce agricultural runoff and improve water quality while maintaining farmers' and landowners' income [53].…”

Section: North Carolinamentioning

confidence: 99%

Drivers of agrivoltaic perception in California and North Carolina

Cuppari,

Fernandez-Bou,

Characklis

et al. 2024

Environ. Res.: Food Syst.

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The last decade has seen dramatic growth in solar power. In some regions, the most favorable land for solar panels is farmland, which is often flat and exposed to high levels of irradiance. At the same time, the agricultural sector is faced with growing challenges, notably changing water availability and increasingly frequent extreme weather events. The combination of these trends presents an opportunity for a synergistic relationship between the agriculture and solar sectors: agrivoltaic systems (AVS). In an AVS, solar panels are placed above and between crops, such that the same land produces both food and energy. This system has beneficial microclimate impacts, such as reduced evapotranspiration. Yet, despite these benefits there has been limited uptake of AVS. One reason may be hesitation on the part of farmers, whose perceptions of AVS have been explored little. This analysis seeks to address part of this gap by exploring the relationship between farmer perceptions and interest in AVS. A Likert scale survey was designed and distributed to farmers across two large, agriculturally productive states, North Carolina and California. Responses from the 41 participants who fully completed the survey suggest that farmers who perceive AVS as diversifying their income or whose goals include reducing water use are the most interested in installing an AVS. Respondents also identified financial viability as a major concern, agreeing that upfront cost is a major barrier to AVS and markets as the most influential driver of crop decisions. These findings provide insights for policymakers interested in expanding AVS, particularly in response to environmental stressors, such as water scarcity and extreme weather events. They also suggest the aspects of AVS that may be most important to farmers, and most effective in encouraging AVS uptake. This information can support efforts to promote AVS, contributing to sustainable agriculture.

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Planning for Future Solar Farm Development in North Carolina: A Geographic Food Energy-Water Approach

Cited by 2 publications

References 7 publications

From Fields to Photovoltaics: Effects of Agrisolar Co-Location on Food, Energy, Water, and Economic Security

From Fields to Photovoltaics: Effects of Agrisolar Co-Location on Food, Energy, Water, and Economic Security

Drivers of agrivoltaic perception in California and North Carolina

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