Do agrivoltaics improve public support for solar? A survey on perceptions, preferences, and priorities

Authors

Alexis Pascaris, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
Chelsea Schelly, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
Mark Rouleau, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
Joshua Pearce, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-23-2022

Department

Department of Social Sciences; Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Abstract

Agrivoltaic systems integrate agricultural production with solar photovoltaic electricity generation. Given the proven technical, economic, and environmental co-benefits provided by agrivoltaic systems, increased proliferation is anticipated, which necessitates accounting for the nuances of community resistance to solar development on farmland and identifying pathways for mitigation. Minimizing siting conflict and addressing agricultural communities’ concerns will be key in continued deployment of agrivoltaics, as localized acceptance of solar is a critical determinant of project success. This survey study assessed if public support for solar development increases when energy and agricultural production are combined in an agrivoltaic system. Results show that 81.8% of respondents would be more likely to support solar development in their community if it integrated agricultural production. This increase in support for solar given the agrivoltaic approach highlights a development strategy that can improve local social acceptance and the deployment rate of solar. Survey respondents prefer agrivoltaic projects that a) are designed to provide economic opportunities for farmers and the local community b) are not located on public property c) do not threaten local interests and d) ensure fair distribution of economic benefits. Proactively identifying what the public perceives as opportunities and concerns related to agrivoltaic development can help improve the design, business model, and siting of systems in the U.S.

Publisher's Statement

© The Author(s) 2022. Publisher’s version of record: https://doi.org/10.1007/s44173-022-00007-x

Publication Title

Green Technology, Resilience, and Sustainability

Recommended Citation

Pascaris, A., Schelly, C., Rouleau, M., & Pearce, J. (2022). Do agrivoltaics improve public support for solar? A survey on perceptions, preferences, and priorities. Green Technology, Resilience, and Sustainability, 2(8). http://doi.org/10.1007/s44173-022-00007-x
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/16820

Version

Publisher's PDF