Solar Energy Within the Water-Energy-Food Security Nexus: A Systematic Review

Journal Article: Solar Energy Within the Water-Energy-Food Security Nexus: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Since the Water-Energy-Food Security (WEF) nexus was officially established during the Bonn 2011 Conference, nexus research has grown rapidly. As a result, and due to its interdisciplinary nature, an array of academic literature now engages in the WEF nexus, often in seemingly separate disciplines. Solar energy is one of the most popular renewable energy sources; however, its role within the WEF nexus has only recently gained traction. Through a systematic review, this article examines the current state of knowledge regarding solar energy’s role within the WEF nexus, how solar energy impacts water, energy, and food (in)security, and its potential synergies and trade-offs within the WEF nexus. Accordingly, all the relevant English-language peer-reviewed publications from 2011 and onwards that focus on solar energy’s role within the WEF nexus are reviewed, followed by qualitative conventional content analysis. Four main themes emerge from the review and analysis process: general solar energy deployment, agrivoltaics, aquavoltaics and solar energy greenhouse desalination systems. This article shows that, although the current state of knowledge about solar energy’s role within the WEF nexus is sparse, solar energy creates great synergies regarding improving water, energy, and food security and has an overall positive impact within the WEF nexus. However, threats to local water sources remain a challenge since increased access to unregulated solar energy in areas without or with little previous access to energy can create water overuse, often due to extensive irrigation of food crops. On the other hand, agrivoltaics and aquavoltaics create strong synergies, and both offer water-efficient means of producing energy and food. However, aquavoltaics often undermine food production, while agrivoltaics impact on food production varies depending on what crops are grown and their location. Solar energy greenhouse desalination systems offer a way of creating self-sufficient food production but have only been examined on a small-scale level. All main research areas require more research to identify the full scope of solar energy’s role within the WEF nexus.

Topics

Reviews/Informational

Agrivoltaic Activity: Crop Production, Greenhouse

Author: Ian Granit

Published Journal

ResearchGate, 08/2021

DOI: Not Provided
Check for DOI availability: http://crossref.org
Online: Internet link for Solar Energy Within the Water-Energy-Food Security Nexus: A Systematic Review

Citation

Ian Granit. 08/2021. Solar Energy Within the Water-Energy-Food Security Nexus: A Systematic Review. ResearchGate.

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