Innovations in agrivoltaics: implementing cost-effective, dual land use in UK protected agriculture

Agrivoltaic technology allows dual use of land, combining agricultural production with photovoltaic electricity generation.

We already reported how innovative tinted and semi-transparent solar panels could utilise 'spare' solar irradiation for electricity production when installed above growing plants.

Applying these, and newly developed flexible agrivoltaic materials, to existing greenhouses or polytunnels could help UK protected agriculture to meet net-zero carbon targets.

This energy-intensive and valuable UK farming sector will: trial how best to install next-generation panels, practically and cost-effectively, in a real-world commercial setting; compare effects on soft fruit of their implementation; and show how generated energy can facilitate automated farming.