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2024 | Book

The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus Read chapter Read first chapter

The Emergence of Agrivoltaics

Current Status, Challenges and Future Opportunities

Authors: Dimitris A. Chalkias, Elias Stathatos

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Book Series : Green Energy and Technology

Part of: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik"

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About this book

This book assists in the adoption of the sustainable cross-sectoral nexus approach of agrivoltaics, which can provide a quite significant untapped potential for the sustainable development of humanity. Increasing demand for water, energy and food, due to population growth and urbanization, is aggravated by unprecedented extreme weather and climatic conditions. This situation is likely to undermine the sustainable and peaceful development of humanity. Today, more than ever, there is an imperative need to support the identification and development of practical solutions, where the use of a nexus approach can lead to improved outcomes in the integrated management of water–energy–food–ecosystem (WEFE) resources.

This book disseminates the current knowledge of the modern approach of agrivoltaics, providing a comprehensive state of the art on the field, discussing the current status, the challenges and the future perspectives for their further development. This new currently in-depth unexplored topic will be covered thoroughly by the present book, which will attract the readership of both the scientific and industrial research communities, even of people who are dealing with cultivations, promoting the development in the field, from conceptual designs to practical realizations.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter
Chapter 1. The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus
Abstract
This chapter is the forerunner of the cross-sectoral nexus approach of agrivoltaics that the present book introduces, presenting the current challenges on the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus, as well as approaches that should be adapted in order to attain sustainable management of the WEFE nexus.
Dimitris A. Chalkias, Elias Stathatos
Chapter 2. Energy and Agriculture
Abstract
This chapter, entitled “Energy and Agriculture”, accounts for the energy demands of the agricultural sector, discussing, in brief, the main energy inputs at all stages of modern agricultural production and how they are usually managed up until today. The focus herein is to demonstrate the emerging eco-agricultural trend, presenting possible sustainable solutions for energy efficiency and conservation, as well as the ever-increasing application of renewable energy sources to meet the arising energy demands. The aim is to raise awareness of the readers towards the establishment of the mentality of sustainable agriculture that can strike a balance between maximizing crop productivity, preserving economic stability and minimizing the usage of finite natural resources and the detrimental impacts on the environment.
Dimitris A. Chalkias, Elias Stathatos
Chapter 3. Solar Photovoltaic Energy in Agriculture
Abstract
“Solar photovoltaic energy in agriculture” is the main thematic content accounted for in the present book and the main topic for discussion in this chapter. For readers’ benefit and a comprehensive presentation of the current state of the art on the agrivoltaics approach, seven levels for discussion are considered. Initially, an introduction to agrivoltaics takes place, where the reader acquires the minimum background information for the topic, while afterward, the application modes of photovoltaics in agriculture and results from case studies on the corresponding impact of their application on crop yields and quality are presented. Subsequently, a rough overview of the costs for photovoltaics-farming dual land-use compared to bare ground-mounted PV systems is given, followed by a brief report on up-to-date information on the emerging market of agrivoltaics. Finally, the significance of photovoltaic agriculture in the Mediterranean area for sustainable development is demonstrated, while the barriers and opportunities for further development of agrivoltaics are also discussed.
Dimitris A. Chalkias, Elias Stathatos
Chapter 4. An Overview of Solar Cell Technologies Toward the Next-Generation Agrivoltaics
Abstract
This chapter accounts for an overview of solar cell technologies developed up to now, from the mature silicon-based solar cells to the third-generation photovoltaics. Herein, the most important characteristics, current challenges and strategies for further improvement of each solar cell technology are discussed, aiming to demonstrate possible manufacturing options for the development of the next-generation agrivoltaics. The short life-cycle assessment review on solar cell technologies that is also included at the end of this chapter, provides the reader with a more comprehensive point of view toward the development of greener agrivoltaic energy systems.
Dimitris A. Chalkias, Elias Stathatos
Chapter 5. Designing the Future of Agrivoltaics
Abstract
This chapter is a consolidated map of the future of agrivoltaics strategy, presenting the most significant emerging agrivoltaic concepts, from their design level to practical realizations, that appeared in the last few years. Emphasis is given to novel agrivoltaic concepts employing both the mature crystalline silicon photovoltaics and emerging solar cell technologies, with the latter to promise a revolution in land-sharing approach, aimed at more efficient and sustainable energy production and crop growth, simultaneously. Finally, a short discussion providing a comparison of the characteristics of the different photovoltaic technologies tested until now in agricultural practices, focused on important criteria for this niche application, is presented.
Dimitris A. Chalkias, Elias Stathatos
Metadata
Title
The Emergence of Agrivoltaics
Authors
Dimitris A. Chalkias
Elias Stathatos
Copyright Year
2024
Electronic ISBN
978-3-031-48861-0
Print ISBN
978-3-031-48860-3
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-48861-0