Agrivoltaic systems concommitently tackle food and energy security challenges on the same area of land, while also improving farmer livelihoods. Designed correctly, they can increase crop yields by reducing water and heat stresses; yield improvements depend on a range of factors including the available photosynthetically active radiation and the shade tolerance of the crop varieties. Several agrivoltaic pilot studies have been developed over the past decade, predominantly in the Global North, but there is an evidence gap in East Africa where the environmental conditions and livelihood challenges faced by agricultural communities mean there are potentially far greater benefits from agrivoltaic technology. In this paper, we discuss how the environmental conditions, electricity supply and access, farming systems, and political scenarios present opportunities and challenges for using agrivoltaic systems to address sustainable development goals in East Africa. We end by summarising what is required to support development of this technology in the region and realise the potential benefits.
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28 June 2021
AGRIVOLTAICS2020 CONFERENCE: Launching Agrivoltaics World-wide
14–16 October 2020
Perpignan, France, Online
Research Article|
June 28 2021
Agrivoltaics in East Africa: Opportunities and challenges
Richard J. Randle-Boggis;
Richard J. Randle-Boggis
a)
1
Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield
, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
a)Corresponding author: [email protected]
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Eileen Lara;
Eileen Lara
b)
2
Centre for Research in Energy and Energy Conservation (CREEC), Makerere University College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology
, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
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Joel Onyango;
Joel Onyango
c)
3
Climate Resilient Economies Programme, African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), ICIPE Duduville Campus
, Kasarani, Nairobi, Kenya
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Emmanuel J. Temu;
Emmanuel J. Temu
d)
4
World Agroforestry (ICRAF), ICRAF Country Programme
, Plot 22, Coca cola Road P.O. Box 6226, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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Sue E. Hartley
Sue E. Hartley
e)
1
Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield
, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
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a)Corresponding author: [email protected]
AIP Conf. Proc. 2361, 090001 (2021)
Citation
Richard J. Randle-Boggis, Eileen Lara, Joel Onyango, Emmanuel J. Temu, Sue E. Hartley; Agrivoltaics in East Africa: Opportunities and challenges. AIP Conf. Proc. 28 June 2021; 2361 (1): 090001. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0055470
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