Overview
Asia has been a world leader in agrivoltaics with Japan boasting the most agrivoltaic farms and China boasting the largest agrivoltaic farm in the world.
Japan is a world leader in agrivoltaics, with over 2,800 projects across the country. These projects involve the installation of solar panels above crops such as rice, vegetables, and fruit trees. The panels provide shade to the crops, reducing water consumption and preventing sunburn on the fruit, resulting in higher quality produce. The projects also generate clean energy, which is sold to the grid.
China is also investing in agrivoltaics as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase food security. One project in the Gobi desert involves the installation of solar panels above crops such as corn, beans, and tomatoes. The panels provide shade to the crops, reducing water consumption and improving crop yields. The projects also generate clean energy, which is used to power nearby communities.
In India, there are several agrivoltaics projects underway, including one in the state of Gujarat where solar panels have been installed above mango trees. The panels provide shade to the trees, reducing water consumption and preventing sunburn on the fruit, resulting in higher quality mangoes. The projects also generate clean energy, which is sold to the grid.
In Vietnam, agrivoltaics is being used to increase food production in areas with limited land and water resources. One project involves the installation of solar panels above fish ponds, providing shade to the fish and reducing water evaporation. The panels also generate clean energy, which is used to power nearby communities.
We will soon be adding the first Asian agrivoltaic projects to the atlas, and we invite collaborators from anywhere in Asia to contact us and contribute!
Building the Atlas
We launched the Agrivoltaic Atlas on April 12, 2023 for the AgriVoltaics 2023 conference in Daegu, South Korea. We launch with the goal of demonstrating the idea and gathering interest from partners around the world to contribute. If you would like to contribute, contact findme@kailepley.com.