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New research from the University of Sheffield suggests that the UK’s solar expansion goals could be achieved without sacrificing farmland. The study highlights agrivoltaics as a method to meet the UK’s electricity demand more than four times over while maintaining food production. The expansion of ground-mounted solar farms has raised concerns about land use, rising costs, food security, and visual impact, leading to opposition from farmers and local communities. The University’s new research demonstrates how agrivoltaics addresses these issues by installing solar panels above or among crops, allowing continued cultivation or livestock grazing beneath them. In the study, Professor Sue Hartley, Vice-President for Research and Innovation at the University of Sheffield, noted that agrivoltaics is already widely adopted in other countries but remains relatively new in the UK. The study identifies Cambridgeshire, Essex, Lincolnshire, and the broader East and South East of England as ideal regions for agrivoltaic development, citing factors such as: Flat terrain Existing farming practices Strong grid connections Sufficient solar radiation. However, co-author Dr Richard Randle-Boggis, now with SINTEF, explained the importance of field trials in the UK to assess system designs and engage local communities. This is in-line with government policy. International study A previous £1.4m research project by the university tested agrivoltaic systems in Tanzania and Kenya, finding that crops benefited from partial shading, leading to improved yields and water conservation. Rainwater runoff from panels also reduced irrigation needs. Therefore, researchers suggest that agrivoltaics could help reduce opposition to solar farms by demonstrating that renewable energy and agriculture coexist while supporting the UK’s net-zero targets. |
