Energy performance of agrivoltaic systems: state of the art and future prospects

Agrivoltaic systems represent an innovative solution for integrating renewable energy production with agricultural activity, optimising land use and improving overall energy ef􀏐iciency. This technology involves the installation of photovoltaic panels above crops, with variable con􀏐igurations in terms of height, inclination and coverage density, in order to maximise electricity generation without compromising agricultural yields. The energy performance of an agrivoltaic system depends on multiple factors, including the available solar irradiation, the ef􀏐iciency of the photovoltaic modules, the shading induced on crops and local climatic conditions. Compared to traditional photovoltaic systems, agri-voltaic systems can be penalised in terms of performance, as they also have to meet the agronomic needs of the crops with which they are integrated; energy density and installed power per unit area are also penalised. The paper analyses the energy performance of the main types of agri-voltaic applications, also highlighting the environmental bene􀏐its they present, providing a concrete opportunity to combine environmental sustainability and energy ef􀏐iciency. Finally, it analyses the future prospects of these systems, which research and technological innovation are fostering, thanks also to the use of management systems based on arti􀏐icial intelligence