As Thailand strides toward its 2050 carbon neutrality goal, innovative solutions are essential to balance energy demands, food security, and climate resilience. Enter agrivoltaics—a dual-use approach that integrates solar panels with agricultural activities. This blog explores how Thailand can harness agrivoltaics to transform its energy and agricultural sectors, drawing insights from a recent study by the project CASE and School of Renewable Energy and Smart Grid Technology (SGtech), Naresuan University.

What is Agrivoltaics

Agrivoltaics combines solar energy generation with crop cultivation or livestock farming on the same land. By installing solar panels above or between crops, this system optimises land use, reduces water evaporation, and creates microclimates that benefit shade-tolerant plants. For Thailand—a nation with abundant sunlight and a strong agricultural base—agrivoltaics offers a pathway to sustainable development.

Why Agrivoltaics Matters for Thailand

Economic Empowerment for Farmers

• Farmers gain additional income through solar energy sales or reduced electricity costs.
• Leasing land for solar installations provides financial stability, especially in regions with low agricultural yields.

Climate Resilience

• Solar panels mitigate heat stress on crops, conserve soil moisture, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
• Supports Thailand’s pledge to achieve 50% renewable energy by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2065.

Land Efficiency

• Addresses land scarcity by enabling simultaneous food and energy production. Countries like Germany and Japan allocate 60-70% of agrivoltaic land to agriculture.

Rural Development

• Enhances infrastructure, promotes eco-tourism, and fosters innovation through farmer-academia-industry collaboration.

Thailand’s Policy Landscape: Opportunities and Gaps

While Thailand has policies supporting renewable energy (e.g., the Alternative Energy Development Plan) and sustainable agriculture, agrivoltaics lacks a dedicated regulatory framework. Key challenges include:

• Land Use Conflicts: Agricultural land zoning prohibits non-farming activities without permits.
• Grid Connectivity: Farmers face bureaucratic hurdles to sell surplus solar energy.
• Technical Knowledge: Limited awareness among farmers about agrivoltaics design and crop compatibility.

Global Success Stories: Lessons for Thailand

1. China: Scaling Agrivoltaics on Degraded Land

The 200 MW Jiangshan Agrivoltaic Park in Zhejiang Province combines solar panels with shade-tolerant herbs (e.g., Dendrobium orchids) and livestock zones. The project restored degraded, erosion-prone land while generating clean energy for 113,000 households.

Key Policies:

• Subsidies for solar projects on marginal or underutilised land.
• Integration of agrivoltaics into the 13th Five-Year Plan to maximise land efficiency.

Outcome: 90% vegetation cover reduced soil erosion, and farmers earned dual income from crops and energy sales.

Adaptation Tip: Thailand could replicate this model in its northeastern drought-prone regions, pairing solar with drought-resistant crops like moringa or medicinal herbs.

2. France: Balancing Energy and Agriculture with Strict Standards

French startups like Sun’Agri use dynamic solar panels that tilt to optimise light for crops. A vineyard in southern France reported a 12% increase in grape quality under panels due to reduced heat stress.

Key Policies:

• Decree No. 2024-318: Caps solar coverage at 40% of agricultural land and mandates <10% crop yield loss.
• Feed-in tariffs for small-scale projects (<500 kW).

Outcome: Over 300 agrivoltaic farms operate nationwide, with 1.2 GW installed capacity.

Adaptation Tip: Thailand could adopt dynamic panel technology for high-value crops like durian or mangosteen.

3. Italy: Agri-PV Meets High-Value Crops

The 70 MW Pontinia Solar Farm in Lazio integrates bifacial solar panels with olive groves and saffron cultivation. The project allocates 65% of land to agriculture while powering 47,000 homes.

Key Policies:

• National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR): €1.1 billion allocated for agrivoltaics, covering 40% of project costs.
• Requires 70% of land to remain agricultural.

Outcome: Improved soil health and a 30% rise in saffron yields due to partial shading.

Adaptation Tip: Thailand’s orchards (e.g., lychee, longan) could benefit from similar partial-shade systems.

4. South Korea: Overcoming Land-Use Barriers

Pilot projects like the Rockport Blueberry Farm in Maine (USA collaboration) use elevated solar panels to grow blueberries, reducing water use by 20%.

Key Policies:

• Dual-Use Solar Energy Act: Allows temporary solar installations on agricultural land for up to 23 years.
• Exemptions for projects on saline or low-yield farmland.

Outcome: Farmers earn 3x more from energy sales than traditional farming.

Adaptation Tip: Thailand’s coastal salt farms could adopt similar models for solar-salt production synergy.

5. India: Community-Driven Agrivoltaics

The PM-KUSUM Scheme supports 10 GW of solar capacity on farmland, with panels elevated to allow crop growth underneath. In Gujarat, farmers grow turmeric and spinach under solar arrays.

Key Policies:

• Subsidies for solar pumps and grid-connected systems.
• Land conversion waivers for projects in arid regions.

Outcome: 40% reduction in irrigation costs and 25% higher crop yields.

Adaptation Tip: Thailand’s rice paddies could integrate solar panels during non-growing seasons to maximise land use.

Why These Models Matter for Thailand

Each success story underscores a critical lesson:

Flexibility: Agrivoltaics must adapt to local crops, climate, and land types.

Policy Clarity: Clear regulations on land use, energy sales, and farmer incentives are non-negotiable.

Community Buy-In: Farmers and rural communities must be central to project design and benefits.

By blending these global insights with Thailand’s agricultural strengths, the country can pioneer a tropical agrivoltaics model that boosts food security, cuts emissions, and empowers rural economies.

Policy Recommendations for Thailand

Cross-Sector Collaboration: Establish a multi-ministry taskforce (Energy, Agriculture, Environment) to streamline regulations.

Financial Incentives: Subsidise solar installations for farmers; introduce feed-in tariffs for agrivoltaics energy.

Land Zoning Reforms: Create a new land-use category for agrivoltaics, permitting dual-purpose activities.

Capacity Building: Train farmers in agrivoltaics best practices through university partnerships.

Pilot Projects: Launch demonstration farms in drought-prone regions (e.g., Northeast Thailand) to test crop-solar synergies.

The Road Ahead

Unlocking Thailand’s agrivoltaics potential requires proactive policies, strong stakeholder collaboration, and increased public awareness. By drawing insights from global leaders and adapting them to local contexts, Thailand has the opportunity to lead the region in sustainable energy and agriculture.

Policymakers: Integrate agrivoltaics into national energy and agricultural strategies.

Investors: Support pilot projects and invest in R&D for agrivoltaics systems suited to tropical climates.

Academics: Conduct research on crop-specific solar panel configurations and assess their impacts on local climate conditions.