Farming the sun: the political economy of agrivoltaics in the European Union

What is it about?

This article investigates the political economy of agrivoltaic systems, wherein solar photovoltaic panels are integrated with farming. It draws on Kapp’s theory of social costs to identify contemporary green transitions as potential exercises in cost-shifting. Using the dual energy and agricultural transition in the European Union as a case study, I argue that agrivoltaics systems are not simply a win–win technological fix. Instead, their deployment requires a contextual assessment of the existing ecological, political, and economic trade-offs involved. In particular, if agrivoltaics are deployed to address climate change and mitigate global environmental damage, the type of agriculture supported by agrivoltaics cannot be treated as a secondary concern.

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Photo by Andres Siimon on Unsplash

Photo by Andres Siimon on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This article contributes to scholarly debates in several ways. First, it develops a holistic perspective on the green transition by linking the transformations of agricultural and energy systems. Notably, a key theme is the focus on “cheapness” – whether in energy production or the “cheaper food paradigm” characterising industrial agriculture – which stands out as both a common thread and a weakness in dominant green transition approaches. Second, it updates Kapp’s theory of social costs to contemporary developments, using agrivoltaics in the European Union as a concrete case study. Third, it provides an overview of the main benefits and shortcomings of agrivoltaic systems, going beyond technical aspects to address political economy concerns such as state policy, market dynamics, and land ownership, use, and rent. Fourth, it refines the discussion on “win-win solutions” and technical fixes, revealing that trade-offs are an inherent component of economic development.

Perspectives

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This study began as a side project, driven by curiosity about agrivoltaics – a concept that has recently been gaining traction in European policymaking. Initially sceptical, I assumed these systems might simply provide a regulatory loophole for utility-scale solar farms on agricultural land. However, after months of research (and several expert interviews not included in this article), I realised that the outcoming of combining farming and solar photovoltaic energy are far less deterministic or straightforward than I expected. Agrivoltaics deliver significant environmental benefits, but their social and ecological impacts ultimately depend on the political economy guiding their adoption. Under current conditions, large-scale agrivoltaic deployment risks reinforcing entrenched practices among industrial farmers, thus perpetuating associated social-environmental costs. Yet, in a best-case scenario, the passive income from solar panels could subsidise agroecology or help farmers transition away from industrial agriculture.

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