Assessing the Agrivoltaic Potential in Hot Desert Climates

The expansion of photovoltaic (PV) systems in desert climates creates pressure on land resources, posing challenges for food and energy security. Agrivoltaics (APV), which integrates agricultural production with PV energy generation, offers a solution by optimizing land use and improving sustainability. This study assesses the potential of APV in Qatar's desert climate, characterized by extreme temperatures, limited rainfall, and scarce arable land. APV systems can mitigate the adverse effects of high temperatures on crops, reduce water consumption, and enhance electricity production by creating favorable microclimates for both agriculture and energy generation. The study explores various APV configurations and their impact on Qatar's energy goals, estimating the land required to achieve the country’s renewable energy targets. It is found that using 15% of Qatar’s cultivable land could meet the national target of 4 GW of installed PV capacity by 2030. Furthermore, assuming potentially 10% water saving by APV systems on average, 31M m3 of water can be saved in Qatar (if all existing cultivated land became APV), exceeding industrial water use, contributing to Qatar’s water conservation efforts. The research underscores the importance of integrating APV into Qatar’s energy and agricultural strategies to ensure sustainable development in harsh desert conditions.