Workshop on Agriculture Photovoltaics: System Design for Food and Energy Production 24-25 April 2025

1. Reduced Land-Use Competition – Allows simultaneous solar energy production and agricultural activities on the same land.
2. Crop Protection from Heat and Drought – Solar panels provide shade, reducing heat stress, conserving water, and improving soil moisture retention.
3. Renewable Energy Supply – Supports agricultural operations with renewable energy, cutting costs and enhancing energy security, particularly in off-grid areas.
4. Additional Revenue Streams – Enables farmers to generate and sell electricity, diversifying income sources and stabilizing earnings during low-yield periods.
5. Reduced Fossil Fuel Dependency – Promotes renewable energy use in agriculture, decreasing reliance on fossil fuels.
6. Improved Solar Electricity Yield – Potentially increases solar electricity yield due to the cooling effect provided by crops or vegetation beneath the panels.
7. Improved Operational Efficiency – Provides shelter for livestock and powers automated systems, enhancing farm productivity.
8. Biodiversity Conservation – Creates natural habitats and foraging areas under solar panels, supporting biodiversity preservation.

Agri-PV technology has rapidly expanded across various regions, including Germany, France, the US, Australia, Japan, China, India, and South Korea, covering a wide range of agricultural activities such as floriculture, crop cultivation, livestock and aquaculture. Given Thailand’s agriculture-based economy and abundant sunlight, Agri-PV holds promise to drive the country towards net zero emissions.