Optimizing Agrivoltaic Integration: Spatial Analysis and AHP Assessment

The transition towards sustainable energy sources is crucial for mitigating climate change and achieving long-term environmental sustainability goals. Out of these energy options, photovoltaics stands out as a promising choice because it can help cut carbon emissions in various fields. Nevertheless, expanding solar photovoltaic (PV) farms on land can conflict with agricultural activities due to limited space, potentially disrupting ecosystem services. However, a solution called agrivoltaics integrates both solar PV and agriculture on the same land, maintaining or even enhancing these services. It is crucial to investigate the optimal strategies for harnessing solar radiation to produce both energy and food simultaneously. In this study, our objective is to assess the influence of agrivoltaics on ecosystem services beyond conventional agricultural outputs. We employ land suitability analysis as our primary methodological approach to evaluate the compatibility of agrivoltaic systems with diverse ecological services. Our investigation aims to elucidate the broader ecological implications of integrating solar photovoltaic technology with agricultural practices. The case study is conducted in the Basilicata region of Italy.