Planning and Analysis of Possible Land Utilization Patterns for Food-Energy Park With Renewables

With the growing demand for clean energy and sustainable agriculture calls for proper land use and developing smart infrastructure to increase both food and energy yield. In this regard, food-energy park (FEP) concepts are emerging as a good option for achieving food and energy security. This paper presents a detailed plan for land utilization and techno-economic analysis of a prototype FEP on a one-hectare (2.5 acres) plot, integrating renewable energy generation with sustainable food production. The FEP aims to meet a renewable energy capacity of 500 kW and produce enough food for 50 people. A comparative analysis of separate zones for different renewable energy sources (RESs) and farming with respect to combined or mixed zone that installs RESs side by side with plantation rows. The study covers the planning and pre-installation analysis of each zone, modeling of the land use area, problem formulation with application of predictive algorithms, and conducting a comprehensive techno-economic studies. The results highlight the feasibility of the FEP, offering insights into the balance between energy production, food yield, cost efficiency, and environmental impact.