A SWOT-Based Assessment of Agrivoltaic Greenhouse Systems in Iran

Agrivoltaic greenhouses have emerged as a promising solution for addressing the interlinked challenges of water scarcity, energy shortages, and agricultural sustainability in arid and semi-arid regions. Iran, characterized by high solar irradiance, increasing electricity demand, and limited water resources, provides a suitable context for evaluating the feasibility of such integrated systems. This study applies a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis to systematically assess the development potential of agrivoltaic greenhouse systems in Iran. The analysis is based on an extensive review of scientific literature, technical reports, and national energy and agricultural statistics. The results indicate that high solar availability, improved water-use efficiency, mitigation of excessive heat stress, and on-site renewable electricity generation constitute the main strengths of agrivoltaic greenhouses. Key weaknesses include high initial investment costs, potential crop yield sensitivity to photovoltaic shading, and energy requirements during nighttime or cold seasons. Significant opportunities arise from persistent electricity shortages during peak demand, declining hydropower generation due to drought, and increasing national support for solar energy development. However, low domestic electricity and agricultural product prices, high photovoltaic costs, dust accumulation, and water scarcity risks represent major threats to large-scale implementation.

کلیدواژه ها:

Agrivoltaic Greenhouses ، SWOT Analysis ، Renewable Energy-Agriculture Nexus