Report: Agrivoltaics: Integrating Solar Energy Generation with Livestock Farming in Canterbury
Abstract
Agrivoltaics is the integration of agriculture and solar energy production and seeks to find synergies between the two to create a complementary system. Agrivoltaics relates to all agricultural activities. However, for the purpose of this report, solar integration with livestock farming is the focus.
With increased interest in energy generation of utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Aotearoa New Zealand, agrivoltaics provides the opportunity to increase the productivity of land, contribute to the generation of renewable energy without displacing food production, and potentially optimise farming and environmental outcomes.
A significant area of Canterbury is classified as suitable for agrivoltaics and innovations in solar array designs and configurations are developing rapidly. In saying that, certain factors remain challenging, such as the increase in wind shear effects and financial expense when panels are elevated to reduce shading and prevent damage from larger grazing livestock, such as cattle. The trade-offs to consider when selecting the most appropriate design for agrivoltaic systems add additional complications. Some of the factors to balance include electricity generation, cost-effectiveness, degree of shading produced, ability to withstand the site environment, and ability to withstand livestock grazing underneath.
Shade provision to mitigate heat stress risk, and sheltering from harsh weather, are perhaps the greatest potential benefits of agrivoltaics for livestock. However, given the condensed siting (eg, one paddock) of the panels, and limitations with cattle, the benefits are limited for the overall farming system. This may change as capital cost of PV investments decrease. Also, the impacts of agrivoltaics on crops and pasture in an Aotearoa New Zealand context are largely unknown.
While much is known theoretically of the environmental impacts associated with the manufacture and end-of-life disposal and recycling of solar PV panels, there are relatively few mitigators and solutions at present in Aotearoa New Zealand. The end-of-life disposal and recycling is of particular consequence to this country, and will require rapid investment, development and likely legislation to create solutions and reduce future harm to the environment. In terms of environmental impacts on the farmland where agrivoltaic systems are located, there is, again, a lack of research to refer to, particularly in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Case study analyses were carried out on a dairy farm and a sheep and beef farm, both located in Canterbury. These considered both technical design and financial analysis. The sheep and beef case study analysis indicated a significant opportunity for sheep and beef farmers to increase their profitability by incorporating agrivoltaics into their farming enterprise. This comes at a time of increased interest in complementary revenue streams due to reduced farmgate product prices, increased working expenses and increased compliance costs and associated administrative workload.
The financial analysis of agrivoltaics in the dairy farm case study suggested it was significantly less lucrative and indicates that incorporation of solar generation on dairy farms might be best suited to non-productive areas and/or the installation of panels on shed roofs, rather than agrivoltaics.
A workshop was run that included both dairy and sheep and beef farmers. Attendees were initially presented with pertinent information regarding agrivoltaics, before being invited to participate in a design thinking inspired workshop to identify potential barriers and benefits of agrivoltaics and possible solutions to overcome the barriers to adoption. The participants’ feedback demonstrated that farmers were open to the idea of agrivoltaics, assuming it was financially viable and key concerns were addressed. The need for accessible and easily understood resources to inform decision making and provide confidence to engage in conversations and form partnerships with solar energy companies was identified as a key requirement going forward.
The study provides evidence that agrivoltaics is worthy of further consideration, particularly due to the way in which it offers solutions to some of the major challenges of standard utility-scale solar electricity generation. It is evident that the significant gaps in literature need to be addressed to further understand what the potential financial, environmental and social impacts are for the people of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Contains a model
Contains novel data
Topics
- Livestock
- Social Perspectives
- Farmer/landowner perspectives
- Market Assessments
- Technical potential
- Market potential
- Agricultural supply chains
- Value propositions
- Economics
- System Configuration
- Compatibility with farming
- Agrivoltaic Activity
- Animal Grazing
- Authors
- Anna Vaughan, Alan Brent, Megan Fitzgerald and Jasper Kueppers
- Organizations
- INFRATEC, TAMBO New Zealand LTD. and Victoria University of Wellington
:
Our Land and Water Rural Professionals Fund 2023, 2023
- DOI
- Not Provided
Check for DOI availability:
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- Online
- Internet link for Agrivoltaics: Integrating Solar Energy Generation with Livestock Farming in Canterbury
Citation
Anna Vaughan, Alan Brent, Megan Fitzgerald, Jasper Kueppers (INFRATEC, TAMBO New Zealand LTD., Victoria University of Wellington). 2023. Agrivoltaics: Integrating Solar Energy Generation with Livestock Farming in Canterbury. Our Land and Water: Our Land and Water Rural Professionals Fund 2023.
