Harvesting the sun twice: Enhancing livelihoods in East African agricultural communities through innovations in solar energy

两次收获阳光：通过太阳能创新改善东非农业社区的生计

基本信息

批准号：
ES/T006293/1
负责人：
Sue Hartley
金额：
$ 164.48万
依托单位：
University of Sheffield
依托单位国家：
英国
项目类别：
Research Grant
财政年份：
2020
资助国家：
英国
起止时间：
2020 至无数据
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ES%2FT006293%2F1
关键词：
Harvesting sun twice Enhancing livelihoods

项目摘要

Access to energy is a widespread problem across East Africa, where 73% of the population still do not have reliable electricity. Proving secure and affordable energy infrastructure is crucial to promoting inclusive development of rural communities in this region, and solar power is a sustainable way of achieving this. However, ground mounted arrays of solar panels also remove land from food production at a time when crop yields are threatened by a changing climate and increasing populations, insecure ownership and land "grabbing" are putting pressure on land resources. In practice, economic growth linked to conventional solar arrays may be outweighed by reduced income from crop production and greater food insecurity. Renewable energy technologies which resolve energy, climate and land security conflicts are urgently needed.So called agrivoltiac (AV) systems permit the delivery of solar electricity, crop production, and rainwater harvesting on the same land area. Instead of being ground mounted, arrays are several meters high, enabling crops to be grown underneath. In locations with high light intensity, high temperature, and low rainfall, such as many places in East Africa, the productivity of crops grown beneath these elevated solar arrays can be significantly improved because shade from the panels creates a more favourable growing environment with reduced heat stress and water loss. This more favourable environment for plants means the range of crops can be extended to higher-value ones, which can improve farmer incomes in disadvantaged rural communities. Crops may also be grown in locations previously unsuitable, further increasing food supplies and revenue sources.Working with African solar developers and a Kenyan agribusiness company, as well as non-governmental organisations, regional political organisations and local communities, we have identified case study sites in Kenya and Uganda where solar arrays are being installed and our interdisciplinary research can be conducted. The project aims to provide a real test case for the application and adaptation of AV systems to the needs of communities in Eastern Africa by:a) Identifying areas in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania that are most physically suitable (e.g. climate, existing land use, lack of energy access) for realising the benefits of AV systems and their uptake by communities.b) Field testing of AV systems in communities in Kenya & Uganda to provide data on resulting livelihood enhancement (increasing crop yield and farmer income, access to sustainable energy) as well as perceptions and attitudes of rural communities to AV systems.c) Using the data collected to develop a decision support tool for regional and national governments and NGOs to deliver AV systems effectively and in line with community needs.The findings from this project will reveal the potential this technology to lead to livelihood improved access to energy and increased incomes through production of higher-value crops, as well as the barriers within local communities to the uptake of AV systems. It will also show which economic, social, cultural and political factors help or hinder the expansion of AV systems in this region. We will assess how AV technology can best be co-designed with the users and seek input from national and regional policymakers to inform the potential rollout of AV systems across East Africa and potentially beyond.

在东非，获得能源是一个普遍的问题，那里有73％的人口仍然没有可靠的电力。证明安全和负担得起的能源基础设施对于促进该地区农村社区的包容性发展至关重要，太阳能是实现这一目标的可持续方式。但是，在农作物产量受到气候变化和人口不断增加的威胁时，地面架上的太阳能电池板也从粮食生产中删除了土地，所有权和土地“抓住”正在给土地资源带来压力。实际上，与传统太阳能阵列相关的经济增长可能会因农作物产量和更大的粮食不安全感而减少的收入减少。迫切需要解决能源，气候和土地安全冲突的可再生能源技术。因此，称为Agrivoltiac（AV）系统允许在同一土地面积上传递太阳能电力，农作物生产和收获雨水。阵列没有被接地，而是高几米，可以在下面种植农作物。在高度强度，高温和低降雨量的位置，例如东非的许多地方，在这些高架太阳阵列下种植的农作物的生产力可以显着改善，因为面板的阴影可创造出更有利的增长环境，并减少热应力和水分流失。这种更有利的环境意味着植物范围可以扩展到高价值的植物，这可以改善弱势农村社区的农民收入。 Crops may also be grown in locations previously unsuitable, further increasing food supplies and revenue sources.Working with African solar developers and a Kenyan agribusiness company, as well as non-governmental organisations, regional political organisations and local communities, we have identified case study sites in Kenya and Uganda where solar arrays are being installed and our interdisciplinary research can be conducted.该项目旨在提供一个真正的测试案例，以应用和适应东非东部社区需求，a）确定肯尼亚，乌干达和坦桑尼亚在身体上最合适的地区（例如，现有的土地使用，缺乏能源访问，缺乏能源访问）来实现AV系统及其对现场测试的效果。提高（增加农作物产量和农民收入，获得可持续能源的获取）以及对农村社区对AV系统的看法和态度。C）使用收集的数据为区域和国家政府和非政府组织开发一个决策支持工具，以有效地交付AV系统，并与社区需求相处。该项目将揭示该技术的范围，从而揭示了较高的能源，并可以提高能源的范围，从而获得了进一步的访问，并获得了能源的范围，并且能够获得，并且能够获得范围，并且能够获得更多的访问，并且能够获得更多的访问，并且能够获得更多的访问，并且能够获得更多的范围。以及当地社区内部对AV系统采用的障碍。它还将显示哪些经济，社会，文化和政治因素有助于或阻碍该地区的AV系统的扩展。我们将评估如何最好地与用户共同设计AV技术，并寻求国家和区域决策者的意见，以告知整个东非以及可能超越的AV系统的潜在推出。