Imagine if farmers could grow crops AND generate clean energy on the same piece of land. That’s exactly what researchers from Universitas Gadjah Mada have mapped out for Indonesia’s drought-prone Gunungkidul Regency through innovative agrivoltaic systems—solar installations that work in harmony with agriculture.
Using advanced Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and multi-criteria analysis, the research team identified the most suitable locations for these dual-purpose installations across 18 sub-districts. Their findings revealed three prime locations: Semanu (1,779.9 Ha), Wonosari (1,325.5 Ha), and Tepus (1,157.2 Ha), with Tepus emerging as the top choice since it aligns with existing government solar development plans.
The study demonstrates how agrivoltaic systems could transform farming communities by providing farmers with additional income from electricity sales while improving crop growing conditions through strategic shading. For a region where 80% of agriculture takes place on challenging dryland, this approach offers a promising path toward enhanced food security and rural electrification.
This research provides a replicable methodology that could benefit arid and semi-arid regions worldwide, showing how innovative land use planning can simultaneously address food production, clean energy generation, and sustainable development goals.
Read the complete research: Optimising Agrivoltaic Systems: Identifying Suitable Solar Development Sites for Integrated Food and Energy Production – Journal of Power, Energy, and Control, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2024
Authors: Apri Tri Nugroho, Sasongko Pramono Hadi, Heri Sutanta, Hyatma Adikara Ajrin