Researchers to explore agrivoltaics as a solution for food and energy in Ghana and Nigeria
- Relying on rain-fed farming, rural communities in Ghana and Nigeria face increased food insecurity and rising energy demands due to climate change.
- Agrivoltaics, which integrates solar energy production with agriculture, offers a potential solution to simultaneously produce food and energy on the same land.
- There is a pressing need for proper policies and investment frameworks to support the adoption of agrivoltaics in climate-vulnerable West African countries.
In West Africa, specifically Ghana and Nigeria, the urgent need to address climate vulnerabilities, food insecurity, and energy poverty has led to an exploration of agrivoltaics, a dual land-use strategy integrating agriculture with solar energy production. Demographic pressures, land degradation, and increasing energy demands are putting natural resources under significant strain. To address these challenges, the integration of solar panels on farmland may provide a solution by allowing for the simultaneous production of food and energy. This could prove to be particularly beneficial in rural communities relying heavily on rain-fed agriculture, where crop yields are diminishing due to climate change. Despite the potential benefits, implementing agrivoltaics requires overcoming structural and policy-related barriers. High initial capital costs, insufficient investment, and a lack of technical expertise represent significant challenges for adopting renewable energy solutions in these regions. Furthermore, existing land tenure systems complicate efforts to deploy solar projects on agricultural land, as these systems are often not well formalized, potentially leading to issues of land dispossession. Policymakers are urged to develop comprehensive frameworks that recognize agrivoltaics as an integrated land-use model, which could include formalizing land tenure, providing incentives for solar installations, and establishing clear operational guidelines. As the International Energy Agency predicts steady increases in global energy demand by 2050, proactive measures must be taken to ensure sustainable practices in food production and energy consumption. With research indicating that solar installation can lead to reduced water usage and improved crop resilience, agrivoltaics emerges as a potential game-changer for regions where such combined systems can alleviate some pressures of climate change. Cooperation between academic institutions and local stakeholders will be vital in implementing pilot projects, leading to sustainable energy and agricultural outcomes. In July 2025, a team from Oregon State University plans to visit Nigeria and Ghana to initiate discussions on potential pilot projects for agrivoltaics. Their research aims to harmonize electricity generation concerns with food security issues, thereby fostering agricultural productivity and addressing the interrelated challenges posed by climate change. Successful implementation of such projects could serve as a model for other climate-vulnerable regions, promoting the dual benefits of renewable energy and sustainable agriculture.