In the panel's shade: Opportunities, barriers, and effects of agrivoltaics in rural Colombia
2026 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
What effects does agrivoltaics, the integration of solar energy generation and agriculture, have on the food and energy security of rural Colombia? And what sociopolitical power dynamics shape agrivoltaics development? By interviewing 11 agrivoltaics stakeholders this thesis sheds light on participant perspectives, using a grounded theory-inspired case study to analyse the data. Findings reveal that agrivoltaics is associated with improvements to the livelihoods, food security, and energy security of the communities that host projects. Chiefly, isolated communities saw a significant improvement to their otherwise unstable energy supply. Agrivoltaics is also especially valued for its creation of additional income opportunities and as a climate regulator. However, numerous barriers including a lack of knowledge, state absence, and cost-related unattainability hinder broader adoption. A revenue maximisation could potentially be pursued by project owners due to the higher profit margins offered by solar energy generation compared to agricultural production. Furthermore, issues emerged regarding inequitable ownership and distribution of benefits, as many agrivoltaics projects in Colombia are owned and operated by entities other than the owner of the land where the projects are located. To leverage the potential of agrivoltaics, policy must ensure that benefits are distributed equitably, that communities are included in decision-making processes, and that project development does not further entrench social inequity in an already inequitable country. Future research should continue to study the politics and power relations shaping agrivoltaics in Colombia and Latin America. This thesis supports the hypothesis that agrivoltaics, if implemented correctly, can be a force for good that tackles several urgent problems simultaneously, delivering tangible improvements to people’s lives. The task now is to ensure it does so while promoting a just energy transition.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2026. , p. 68
Keywords [en]
Agrivoltaics; renewable energy; political ecology; just energy transition; Colombia
National Category
Environmental Studies in Social Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-593121OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-593121DiVA, id: diva2:2081581
Subject / course
Master's Thesis in Implementation Science, Transformational Learning and Sustainability
Educational program
Master's Programme in Implementation, Transformative Learning and Sustainability
Supervisors
Examiners
2026-06-302026-06-292026-06-30Bibliographically approved