Technical Potential and Challenges for Agrivoltaic Development in Nigeria

Author

Ifeoluwa Ezekiel Babarinde, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Date of Award

12-1-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Agricultural, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences

First Advisor

Rafael M. Almeida

Second Advisor

Engil Pereira

Third Advisor

Jude Benavides

Abstract

The co-location of agriculture and solar photovoltaic (PV) infrastructure, known as agrivoltaics, is an increasingly popular practice that offers co-benefits like reduced plant drought stress and improved yields of shade-tolerant crops, particularly in water-scarce agricultural regions. Despite its global growth, knowledge on the technical potential, opportunities, and challenges for agrivoltaic development remains limited in the Global South. Here we address this knowledge gap for Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, by identifying high-potential regions based on the premise that agrivoltaic co-benefits are generally most pronounced in arable lands with both high solar irradiation and water stress. We find that northern regions, where cropland is abundant and electricity access is low, exhibit high potential for co-benefits due to their dry climate and strong solar irradiance. This includes two of the Nigeria’s most populous states, Kano and Katsina. In contrast, the humid forest regions of southern Nigeria—including Lagos, another populous state—have limited cropland, lower solar irradiance, and thus lower potential for agrivoltaic co-benefits.

Further, our findings reveal that northern states could fully meet their projected solar energy capacity expansions through agrivoltaics by covering modest portions of their cropland (<5%), whereas southern states would require substantial shares, often approaching full coverage of available cropland, for similar outcomes. Despite this potential, we identify several potential challenges for agrivoltaics buildout, including high initial costs, land ownership disputes, technical expertise gaps, and regional security concerns.

Our analysis provides an initial assessment of agrivoltaics’ technical potential in Nigeria and highlights potential obstacles to overcome for the successful integration of solar power with agriculture.

Comments

Copyright 2024 Ifeoluwa Ezekiel Babarinde. https://www.proquest.com/docview/3153382578

Recommended Citation

Babarinde, Ifeoluwa Ezekiel, "Technical Potential and Challenges for Agrivoltaic Development in Nigeria" (2024). Theses and Dissertations. 1632.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/etd/1632