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Impacts and opportunities from large‐scale solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation on agricultural production
Author(s) -
Guerin Turlough F.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
environmental quality management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.249
H-Index - 27
eISSN - 1520-6483
pISSN - 1088-1913
DOI - 10.1002/tqem.21629
Subject(s) - photovoltaic system , photovoltaics , investment (military) , scale (ratio) , agriculture , electricity , production (economics) , electricity generation , natural resource economics , business , solar energy , environmental economics , solar power , economics , agricultural economics , environmental resource management , engineering , power (physics) , geography , political science , physics , cartography , archaeology , quantum mechanics , politics , law , electrical engineering , macroeconomics
With large‐scale solar photovoltaics in Australia experiencing unprecedented levels of investment, now is a unique opportunity for the national economy and for the communities in regional Australia. Environmental impacts are minimal and community benefits can accrue from both large‐ and utility‐scale solar projects, such as jobs and regional investment. But there are questions for the agricultural sector to consider as these opportunities open up: To what extent is the concern of energy generation versus food production warranted? Should large‐scale solar power stations even be built on agricultural land? The author uses a case study from the Central West of New South Wales (NSW) to explore these issues as well as briefly reviewing critical research into the international development of agrivoltaics.