Evaluation of a Great Agrovoltaic Implementation in an Isle Using SWOT and TOWS Matrices: Case Study of Gran Canaria Island (Spain)

Nowadays, we are heading towards global decarbonisation, with each sector involved contributing partial solutions to the problem, without realising that an overall vision is necessary. Photovoltaics emerged as a technology that requires a lot of surface area, which is why it has been integrated into...

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Main Authors: Antonio Pulido-Alonso, José C. Quintana-Suárez, Enrique Rosales-Asensio, José J. Feo-García, Néstor R. Florido-Suárez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Land
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/2043
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author Antonio Pulido-Alonso
José C. Quintana-Suárez
Enrique Rosales-Asensio
José J. Feo-García
Néstor R. Florido-Suárez
author_facet Antonio Pulido-Alonso
José C. Quintana-Suárez
Enrique Rosales-Asensio
José J. Feo-García
Néstor R. Florido-Suárez
author_sort Antonio Pulido-Alonso
collection DOAJ
description Nowadays, we are heading towards global decarbonisation, with each sector involved contributing partial solutions to the problem, without realising that an overall vision is necessary. Photovoltaics emerged as a technology that requires a lot of surface area, which is why it has been integrated into buildings and other human infrastructures (BPVI). The effects of the implementation of AVS on an island have been analysed, observing the territory’s energy use, population, and social and topographical realities, collecting all the peculiarities that could be affected by a massive implementation of this technology. The method to be followed is a SWOT and TOWS analysis, widely employed in all types of scientific studies. The increase in the island’s resilience has been assessed, as has its decreasing its dependence on the outside. In this case, it has been observed that conventional PV is currently being installed on agricultural land to decarbonise electricity production, which mostly relies on oil and does not consider that the island is a territory with a high food dependence on the outside; a high unemployment rate; a high factor of soil desertification, meaning fires are frequent; a high rate of abandonment of agricultural land; and a shortage of flat land. Therefore, we affirm that the island’s carbon footprint will increase by not taking all these factors into account. In addition to punishing the local economy by destroying fertile soil, local food and jobs, the current method of energy production increases the need for subsidies to import food products from abroad. In addition, we claim that the use of AVS reduces the water needs of the crop, which is relevant on an island with great water scarcity. It is concluded that 11 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals would be improved with the use of agrovoltaic technology.
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spelling doaj-art-8e841d0ebfc941ea9577d528ddc516c52025-08-20T02:00:34ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2024-11-011312204310.3390/land13122043Evaluation of a Great Agrovoltaic Implementation in an Isle Using SWOT and TOWS Matrices: Case Study of Gran Canaria Island (Spain)Antonio Pulido-Alonso0José C. Quintana-Suárez1Enrique Rosales-Asensio2José J. Feo-García3Néstor R. Florido-Suárez4Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, SpainDepartment of Electrical Engineering, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, SpainDepartment of Electrical Engineering, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, SpainDepartment of Electronical Engineering, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, SpainDepartment of Civil Engineering, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, SpainNowadays, we are heading towards global decarbonisation, with each sector involved contributing partial solutions to the problem, without realising that an overall vision is necessary. Photovoltaics emerged as a technology that requires a lot of surface area, which is why it has been integrated into buildings and other human infrastructures (BPVI). The effects of the implementation of AVS on an island have been analysed, observing the territory’s energy use, population, and social and topographical realities, collecting all the peculiarities that could be affected by a massive implementation of this technology. The method to be followed is a SWOT and TOWS analysis, widely employed in all types of scientific studies. The increase in the island’s resilience has been assessed, as has its decreasing its dependence on the outside. In this case, it has been observed that conventional PV is currently being installed on agricultural land to decarbonise electricity production, which mostly relies on oil and does not consider that the island is a territory with a high food dependence on the outside; a high unemployment rate; a high factor of soil desertification, meaning fires are frequent; a high rate of abandonment of agricultural land; and a shortage of flat land. Therefore, we affirm that the island’s carbon footprint will increase by not taking all these factors into account. In addition to punishing the local economy by destroying fertile soil, local food and jobs, the current method of energy production increases the need for subsidies to import food products from abroad. In addition, we claim that the use of AVS reduces the water needs of the crop, which is relevant on an island with great water scarcity. It is concluded that 11 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals would be improved with the use of agrovoltaic technology.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/2043agrovoltaicsTOWS matrixelectric systemdescarbonisation
spellingShingle Antonio Pulido-Alonso
José C. Quintana-Suárez
Enrique Rosales-Asensio
José J. Feo-García
Néstor R. Florido-Suárez
Evaluation of a Great Agrovoltaic Implementation in an Isle Using SWOT and TOWS Matrices: Case Study of Gran Canaria Island (Spain)
Land
agrovoltaics
TOWS matrix
electric system
descarbonisation
title Evaluation of a Great Agrovoltaic Implementation in an Isle Using SWOT and TOWS Matrices: Case Study of Gran Canaria Island (Spain)
title_full Evaluation of a Great Agrovoltaic Implementation in an Isle Using SWOT and TOWS Matrices: Case Study of Gran Canaria Island (Spain)
title_fullStr Evaluation of a Great Agrovoltaic Implementation in an Isle Using SWOT and TOWS Matrices: Case Study of Gran Canaria Island (Spain)
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of a Great Agrovoltaic Implementation in an Isle Using SWOT and TOWS Matrices: Case Study of Gran Canaria Island (Spain)
title_short Evaluation of a Great Agrovoltaic Implementation in an Isle Using SWOT and TOWS Matrices: Case Study of Gran Canaria Island (Spain)
title_sort evaluation of a great agrovoltaic implementation in an isle using swot and tows matrices case study of gran canaria island spain
topic agrovoltaics
TOWS matrix
electric system
descarbonisation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/2043
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