Driving and restraining forces for the implementation of the Agrophotovoltaics system technology – A system dynamics analysis

• Published in: Journal of environmental management 2020-09, Vol.270, p.110864-110864, Article 110864
• Main Authors: Ketzer, Daniel, Schlyter, Peter, Weinberger, Nora, Rösch, Christine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: agricultural land; agricultural worker; Agrophotovoltaics; biomass; Causal loop diagrams; diagram; heat stress; human; innovation; land use change; land use planning; landscape; motivation; operations technology; Participation; photovoltaic system; precipitation; public attitude; Renewable energies; renewable energy; solar power; stakeholder; stakeholder engagement; System dynamics; technology adoption
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110864

The innovative Agrophotovoltaics (APV) system technology combines agricultural biomass and solar power production on the same site and aims at reducing the conflict between food and power production. Unrelated to this benefit, this technology may impact the landscape negatively and could thus be subject to public opposition and/or restraining frameworks. The presented study offers a System Dynamics (SD) approach, through Causal Loop Diagrams (CLDs) models, based on the results of citizen workshops, literature research, and expert discussions on the technology. A comprehensive analysis of the driving and restraining forces for the implementation of APV-technology and expected or potential impacts reveals influential factors. Hence, this SD approach identifies bottlenecks and conflicting objectives in the technology implementation that need to be further addressed. A key finding is that successful APV-projects would require stakeholder involvement to achieve greater local acceptance. When it comes to production on agricultural land, APV-systems may drive the land use efficiency to up to 186 percent when the PV-panels serve for protection against heat stress. On the other hand, altered precipitation patterns and impacts on agricultural cultivation and, especially, the landscape caused by the technical system, may restrain the application of APV. Finally, system design factors and operator modes are amongst the criteria that may influence the local acceptance in society, farmers’ motivation for APV and economic factors for the market launch of APV. •Causal Loop Diagram-based systems' understanding of Agrophotovoltaics.•Local knowledge, participation, and adapted framework as driving forces.•The PV set-up affects the agriculture while shading offers potential benefits.•Optimization conflicts as a key finding of the System Dynamics approach.•Seasonal variation of external factors constrain design optimization.