By Didar Ali
Climate change, amplified by rapid urbanization, population growth, and frequent heat waves, stands as one of the most urgent challenges of our time. To address these interconnected issues, the students of Aga Khan University Faculty of Arts have embarked on an innovative initiative: the Agrivoltaics Project. Guided by Dr. Fouzia Parveen (Associate Professor at Aga Khan University) and Sikander Bizenjo (co-founder of the Balochistan Youth Action Committee (BYAC)), this project seeks to develop a sustainable solution that integrates solar energy generation with agricultural productivity.
The Agrivoltaics Project is part of a broader initiative by the Student Society for Climate Change Awareness—a transformative accelerator program in South Asia. The program empowers over 1,250 university students to lead climate awareness campaigns and engage in sustainability efforts. By equipping students with the knowledge and tools to promote climate justice, the project creates a ripple effect of awareness, inspiring change across the region, particularly in marginalized communities.
Agrivoltaics, or agro-photovoltaics, involves the dual use of land for solar photovoltaic power generation and agriculture. This innovative approach offers a solution to multiple problems simultaneously: meeting the demand for renewable energy and food production while conserving resources and protecting ecosystems.
Significance of Agrivoltaics
Agrivoltaics, the practice of using the same land for both solar energy production and agriculture, is an innovative solution with global significance, especially in regions facing resource scarcity. As climate change intensifies, the need for sustainable energy and food production grows more urgent. In countries like Pakistan, where rapid urbanization is at its peak, the competition for land between urban development, agriculture, and energy infrastructure has created significant pressure on natural resources. With limited arable land, agrivoltaics presents a practical and effective solution for balancing these needs. By simultaneously addressing energy demands and agricultural productivity, agrivoltaics provides a pathway for sustainable development in Pakistan, helping mitigate the impacts of urbanization while enhancing food security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Pilot Project in Karachi and Ghize
In our pilot project, we implemented agrivoltaics on a smaller scale in two distinct locations—Karachi and Ghizer in Gilgit-Baltistan. In Karachi, one of our team members selected a variety of plants, growing one set under solar panels and another as a control group. He monitored their growth, water consumption, and other factors. In Ghizer, a similar experiment was carried out, with vegetables grown under solar panels compared to a control group. The key finding from both locations was that plants under the solar panels required significantly less water. This water conservation aspect is particularly relevant in the context of Pakistan’s growing water scarcity due to climate change.
Our Findings on Agrivoltaics: A Solution for Land Efficiency and Microclimate Creation
Our research and pilot projects have demonstrated that agrivoltaics is an effective solution for enhancing land efficiency through dual and sustainable land use. One of the key findings is that the presence of plants beneath solar panels helps lower the temperature, which, in turn, increases the efficiency of the solar panels. Additionally, the crops create a favorable microclimate under the panels, reducing the impact of extreme heat by offering shade and maintaining moisture levels. In cities like Karachi, where summer temperatures can soar, this microclimate proves beneficial for plant growth compared to open fields. This dual benefit of improved solar panel performance and healthier crops under extreme weather conditions highlights the potential of agrivoltaics as a climate-resilient and resource-efficient solution for urban areas like Pakistan.
Benefits of Agrivoltaics: Dual Use of Land and Resource Efficiency
One of the primary benefits of agrivoltaics is its efficient use of land. In areas where space is limited, agrivoltaics allows for dual land use, enabling solar energy generation and crop cultivation on the same plot. This not only maximizes land productivity but also reduces the need for additional land conversion, helping to preserve natural ecosystems.
Additionally, the shade from solar panels can create a more favorable microclimate for crops, reducing water evaporation and protecting plants from extreme weather conditions. This leads to improved water efficiency—crucial for countries like Pakistan, where water scarcity is an increasing concern. Furthermore, by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and generating renewable energy, agrivoltaics contributes to lowering carbon emissions, making it a powerful tool in combating climate change.
Agrivoltaics and Its Role in Reducing Global Warming
Agrivoltaics can play a crucial role in mitigating global warming, particularly in urban areas where the effects of the urban heat island are pronounced. Cities like Karachi, with their dense concentration of concrete buildings and asphalt roads, trap heat, leading to higher temperatures that exacerbate the effects of climate change.
By incorporating agrivoltaics into urban landscapes, not only can solar energy be generated to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, but the vegetation grown under the solar panels also helps absorb heat and reduce surface temperatures. This dual land use can combat the urban heat island effect by creating cooler microclimates within the city, ultimately contributing to lower overall temperatures. This makes agrivoltaics a promising solution for urban sustainability, helping cities like Karachi become more resilient in the face of rising temperatures and global warming.
Engaging Youth and Expanding Agrivoltaics
Beyond the pilot projects, we also organized awareness sessions in Gilgit and Hunza for high school students, introducing them to the concept of agrivoltaics and its potential benefits. Over 150 students participated in these seminars, learning how agrivoltaics can be a sustainable solution for food security and climate resilience in the region.
Throughout our journey, we were guided by the expert mentorship of Dr. Fozia Praveen, an Associate Professor at the Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development, and Sikander Bizenjo. Their invaluable support helped us navigate the project’s challenges and refine our approach.
Our findings show that agrivoltaics can be a scalable solution to address climate challenges such as urbanization, food shortages, and water scarcity. With minimal land requirements and easy implementation, it offers a promising strategy for Pakistan’s future. Moving forward, we are committed to expanding this project across Karachi and beyond, working with universities and local communities to maximize its impact.
By bridging the gap between energy production and agriculture, agrivoltaics has the potential to be a key player in the fight against climate change. Our team remains dedicated to furthering this work, with the hope of inspiring more youth to become champions of sustainable solutions.
