Ukraine’s energy and agricultural sectors are impacted by the war, and agrivoltaics, a dual land-use technology, could be a solution. Agrivoltaics combines renewable energy production with agriculture, allowing farming and energy generation on the same land. Tesla Energo LLC, a Ukrainian company, has successfully implemented agrivoltaics, building a solar power station and using sheep to maintain the land-eligible area, reducing the need for traditional farming methods. This approach reduces costs, uses natural resources, and produces green energy.
Agrivoltaics is not new; it’s been used in Europe, particularly in the Czech Republic, and has helped farmers cut costs. However, its implementation in Ukraine is limited due to high costs, lack of investors, and regulatory issues. The Ukrainian government must change its laws to allow power generation facilities on agricultural land. The Association of Agrivoltaics Ukraine has created a roadmap to develop the country’s agrivoltaics sector, including training programs and research initiatives.
Solar panel recycling is also an important issue, with Greenpeace Ukraine advocating for a more sustainable approach to recycling solar panels. With a coordinated effort from the government, solar manufacturers, installation companies, and farmers, Ukraine can make agrivoltaics a sustainable and efficient part of both agriculture and energy production.