| dc.description.abstract | The world faces pressing challenges in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the impacts of climate change. Failure to address these issues could result in global average temperatures surpassing the 1.5-degree goal set by the United Nations, leading to severe consequences. Simultaneously, land use change and loss of nature pose significant threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services. Agrivoltaic systems, which integrate solar energy production with agricultural activities, could serve as a valuable approach in addressing these challenges. This thesis explores the design considerations for agrivoltaic systems, focusing on their impact on wildlife, agricultural production, and electricity generation. The research aims to provide insights into optimizing agrivoltaic system design to minimize negative impacts on wildlife while ensuring efficient agricultural and renewable energy production. The analysis of various solar panel configurations and their suitability for different agricultural practices reveals the potential of agrivoltaics to enhance crop production, particularly in dry conditions. The thesis presents several design proposals and principles, such as prioritizing site selection, incorporating wildlife-friendly features, and adapting row spacing and panel height, to address the different considerations. However, the lack of comprehensive studies and empirical data specific to Norway and temperate regions presents challenges in fully understanding the potential and limitations of agrivoltaic systems in these contexts. The thesis emphasizes the importance of further research, field trials, and long-term monitoring to assess the performance, challenges, and opportunities of agrivoltaic systems under local conditions. | |
