Agrivoltaics in Ghana
The energy theme of the Responsible AI Lab (RAIL) supported innovative research at the intersection of renewable energy and agriculture through the Tropical Agrivoltaic Research Fields (TARF) installed under a US National Academy of Sciences funded project. This project explores agrivoltaics, a dual-use land system that combines solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation with crop cultivation to enhance food security, water efficiency, and clean energy production in Ghana.
Agrivoltaics involves mounting solar panels at an elevated height, allowing crops to grow beneath them. This system creates a microclimate that benefits both energy generation and agriculture.
The study’s first phase focused on three staple crops: garden eggs, tomatoes and pepper. These crops were cultivated at the Tamale experimental field, opposite SOS village in Tamale.
Preliminary findings suggest that agrivoltaics could improve crop resilience in harsh climates while boosting renewable energy generation.
The dataset is now publicly available on Kaggle, providing researchers and policymakers with valuable insights into agrivoltaic performance in tropical climates:
https://www.kaggle.com/datasets/responsibleailab/agrivoltaic-dataset-ghana
