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A Spatial Multicriteria Analysis for a Regional Assessment of Eligible Areas for Sustainable Agrivoltaic Systems in Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Grazia Fattoruso

    (Photovoltaic and Sensor Applications Laboratory (TERIN/FSD/SAFS Lab), ENEA Research Center Portici, P.le Enrico Fermi, 1, 80055 Portici, Italy)

  • Domenico Toscano

    (Department of Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, P.le V. Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy)

  • Andrea Venturo

    (Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, Via Claudio 21, 80125 Naples, Italy)

  • Alessandra Scognamiglio

    (Photovoltaic and Sensor Applications Laboratory (TERIN/FSD/SAFS Lab), ENEA Research Center Portici, P.le Enrico Fermi, 1, 80055 Portici, Italy)

  • Massimiliano Fabricino

    (Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, Via Claudio 21, 80125 Naples, Italy)

  • Girolamo Di Francia

    (Photovoltaic and Sensor Applications Laboratory (TERIN/FSD/SAFS Lab), ENEA Research Center Portici, P.le Enrico Fermi, 1, 80055 Portici, Italy)

Abstract

Agrivoltaics’ share of renewable generation is relevant for countries to achieve their energy transition targets. Agrivoltaics is the dual and synergistic use of the land by agricultural crop production and photovoltaic (PV) systems. For their development around a country, a fundamental step is to determine which areas are suitable. This research work has developed a methodological framework for a reliable agrivoltaic land eligibility analysis at regional scale based on a spatial multicriteria analysis (i.e., GIS/MCDM-AHP). The challenging step has been to select a set of relevant criteria, also based on experts’ knowledge, able to capture the factors that can affect both the solar PV potential and agriculture-oriented factors. On the basis of these criteria, properly weighted, a 30 m-resolution land eligibility map for agrivoltaic systems has been generated for the NUTS-2 regions of Italy. We have found that Italy has an eligible area of 10.7 million hectares and a capacity potential of 6435 GW, assuming an installed power density of 0.6 MW/ha. Thus, a land coverage of only 1.24% of this area would allow to reach the national 80 GW target of new renewable capacity to achieve the country’s decarbonisation and energy transition objectives by 2030. The potential of installed capacity results at GW scale for the main land categories of arable land and permanent crops if they are just covered by only 5% with agrivoltaic systems. Thus, the impact of agrivoltaic systems development on land occupation can be considered marginal especially in relation to benefits generated for both the energy and agricultural sectors. Such a method is essentially targeted to regional authorities for planning the sustainable development of agrivoltaic systems at the local level.

Suggested Citation

  • Grazia Fattoruso & Domenico Toscano & Andrea Venturo & Alessandra Scognamiglio & Massimiliano Fabricino & Girolamo Di Francia, 2024. "A Spatial Multicriteria Analysis for a Regional Assessment of Eligible Areas for Sustainable Agrivoltaic Systems in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-29, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:2:p:911-:d:1323451
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Williams, Henry J. & Hashad, Khaled & Wang, Haomiao & Max Zhang, K., 2023. "The potential for agrivoltaics to enhance solar farm cooling," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 332(C).
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    1. Kedar Mehta & Wilfried Zörner, 2025. "Optimizing Agri-PV System: Systematic Methodology to Assess Key Design Parameters," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-26, July.
    2. Reher, Thomas & Lavaert, Cas & Ottoy, Sam & Martens, Johan A. & Van Orshoven, Jos & Cappelle, Jan & Diels, Jan & Van de Poel, Bram, 2025. "Room for renewables: A GIS-based agrivoltaics site suitability analysis in urbanized landscapes," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    3. Lianne Pimenta & Lia Duarte & Ana Cláudia Teodoro & Norma Beltrão & Dênis Gomes & Renata Oliveira, 2025. "GIS-Based Flood Susceptibility Mapping Using AHP in the Urban Amazon: A Case Study of Ananindeua, Brazil," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-23, July.
    4. Carmine De Francesco & Luana Centorame & Giuseppe Toscano & Daniele Duca, 2025. "Opportunities, Technological Challenges and Monitoring Approaches in Agrivoltaic Systems for Sustainable Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-23, January.
    5. Miyake, Saori & Teske, Sven & Rispler, Jonathan & Feenstra, Maartje, 2024. "Solar and wind energy potential under land-resource constrained conditions in the Group of Twenty (G20)," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    6. Giulia Ronchetti & Martina Aiello, 2025. "Potential of Abandoned Agricultural Lands for New Photovoltaic Installations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-19, January.

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