Summary
This 2025 review in Nature Reviews Clean Technology synthesises the emerging scientific evidence on agrivoltaic cropping systems—integrated farming approaches that combine solar photovoltaic infrastructure with agricultural production. The authors examine agronomic performance, energy yields, land-use efficiency, and ecosystem co-benefits across variable climatic and management contexts. The paper appears to position agrivoltaics as a significant frontier in sustainable intensification, with scope to reconcile energy transition and food production goals, whilst acknowledging knowledge gaps regarding long-term soil health, crop nutrient density, and economic sustainability.
Regional applicability
Agrivoltaic systems are nascent in UK farming but face significant constraints including lower solar irradiance, established land tenure patterns, and limited policy support compared to Continental Europe. The review's findings on temperate-zone systems and cool-climate crop adaptation may be most relevant to UK conditions; however, local research and pilot deployment would be needed to assess economic viability and soil-health outcomes under British climate and management regimes.
Key measures
Crop yield changes under partial shade; land-use efficiency (energy and food output per unit area); photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) transmission; microclimate modification; economic viability; biodiversity and soil health indicators
Outcomes reported
The paper reviews scientific evidence on the performance, agronomic impacts, and sustainability outcomes of agrivoltaic systems that combine solar photovoltaic infrastructure with crop and/or livestock production. The review synthesises data on crop yields, land-use efficiency, energy generation, and ecosystem services across diverse geographical and climatic contexts.
Topic tags
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