New research highlights the promise of agrivoltaics in East Africa

Recent research conducted by the University of Sheffield highlights the transformative potential of agrivoltaics in addressing East Africa’s intertwined food, energy, and water challenges.

The study, entitled Harvesting the sun twice: Energy, food and water benefits from agrivoltaics in East Africa., demonstrates how installing solar panels above croplands can optimize land use while simultaneously improving agricultural productivity and generating renewable energy.

Key findings from this research include:

• Increased Crop Yields: Crops grown under solar panels showed improved growth rates due to partial shading, which protects them from extreme sunlight and heat.
• Enhanced Water Efficiency: Solar panels reduce soil evaporation, conserving precious water resources – a critical benefit for drought-prone regions.
• Reliable Energy Supply: The renewable energy generated supports local electricity needs, enabling sustainable irrigation and other essential farming operations.

This research aligns with ongoing efforts to develop solutions that address climate change while boosting food security and energy access. The dual benefits of agrivoltaics offer a practical and scalable pathway for improving rural livelihoods in East Africa.

While these findings underscore the potential of agrivoltaics, they are part of a larger narrative unfolding across Sub-Saharan Africa. As highlighted in our earlier blog post, agrivoltaics is more than just a technological innovation – it’s a system that could redefine the agricultural landscape in the region.

Creating a synergy between agriculture and renewable energy is at the heart of agrivoltaics. The shading provided by solar panels creates a cooler microclimate that protects crops from heat stress. At the same time, the clean energy generated powers irrigation systems, reducing reliance on erratic rainfall, and supports post-harvest processing, such as refrigeration and drying.

Agrivoltaics also contributes to climate change mitigation by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from traditional energy sources. Moreover, its implementation has the potential to create new job opportunities in construction, maintenance, and agriculture, fostering economic growth in rural areas.

East African countries such as Kenya and Tanzania have already begun exploring the benefits of agrivoltaics. These pilot projects show promising results, from conserving water to improving food production. The success of these initiatives provides a roadmap for scaling up agrivoltaic systems across the region.

What’s Next for Agrivoltaics in Africa?

The road to widespread adoption requires collaboration among governments, private investors, and local communities. Land ownership, maintenance, and equitable benefit-sharing are critical factors that need to be addressed. However, with proper planning and investment, agrivoltaics can become a cornerstone of sustainable development in Africa.

By harnessing the sun twice – once for agriculture and once for energy – agrivoltaics offers a transformative solution to some of the most pressing challenges facing East Africa. This innovative approach not only provides hope for farmers but also for a greener, more sustainable future.

The management team of the Israeli Interest and Awareness in Africa Association (I2A3) is already actively involved in the EU-funded REGACE Project , which is developing an innovative agrivoltaics technology to sustainably increase greenhouse yields and improve electricity production. We strongly believe that agrivoltaics has immense potential to transform sub-Saharan farming and are currently looking for partners who share this vision.

—

The writer is the Co-Founder of the Israeli Interest and Awareness in Africa Association (I2A3) and a board member of the Israel-Africa Chamber of Commerce.