Agrivoltaic grazing systems for a sustainable future: Citation database for a multi-disciplinary review & gap analysis
Data files
Jul 29, 2025 version files 46.14 KB
Abstract
Solar photovoltaics (PV) is the fastest growing source of electricity in the world, however, its expansion has raised concerns about the displacement of agriculture and the degradation of rangeland ecosystems. This has prompted research and development of multi-land-use systems that co-prioritize energy production alongside agriculture, commonly referred to as agrivoltaics. Currently, agrivoltaic grazing (also called solar grazing) is one of the most common forms of these systems. However, peer-reviewed research on these systems is limited. This review synthesizes research on agrivoltaic grazing systems, drawing upon literature addressing agrivoltaics broadly and considering relevant literature in adjacent fields of study. This dataset includes the full list of 83 studies included in the synthesis, as well as a list of existing review papers identified in the field.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.cvdncjtf6
Description of the data and file structure
This dataset provides the full list of the 81 citations that were identified for and included in a literature review and synthesis of research on agrivoltaic grazing systems. The citation of each paper is listed, alongside the category that paper was included under in the review. In addition to the 83 papers included in the literature synthesis, a full list of the relevant agrivoltaics review papers identified through the search is also included. Also included in this data set is the data underlying Table 2 of the literature review. This file (AgrivoltaicGrazingforaSustainableFuture_Table2Data.xlsx) contains biomass data and any necessary calculations underlying the data presented in Table 2.
Files and variables
File: AgrivoltaicGrazingforaSustainableFuture_CitationList.xlsx
Description: List of research papers included in literature synthesis
Variables
- Citation - citation for study
- Category - category in which study was grouped for synthesis
File: AgrivoltaicGrazingforaSustainableFuture_Table2Data.xlsx
Description: Summary of agrivoltaic biomass data identified in the literature and included in Table 2 of the review paper. This file includes the biomass values across relevant measurement points (e.g. control, under modules, between modules) as well as calculations of percent differences across these measurement points.
Variables
- Paper - citation for data in that row
- Location - study location
- Array size - size of the array where data was collected (MW)
- Array tilt - specifies whether data was collected in a fixed-tilt or single-axis tracking array
- Data year - year data was collected. In some cases, a single study presents data across multiple years.
- Data description - how biomass data is described in the study, including units
- Array biomass - biomass value within array, if provided in paper. Bolded values in green are pulled directly from the manuscript, while blue, italic values were estimated from figures in the manuscript.
- Control biomass - biomass value from control or outside array, if provided in paper. Bolded values in green are pulled directly from the manuscript, while blue, italic values were estimated from figures in the manuscript.
- Between biomass - biomass value from spaces between modules, also referred to as gap, interspace, or partially shaded area, if provided in paper. Bolded values in green are pulled directly from the manuscript, while blue, italic values were estimated from figures in the manuscript.
- Under biomass - biomass value beneath modules, if provided in paper. Bolded values in green are pulled directly from the manuscript, while blue, italic values were estimated from figures in the manuscript.
- Array vs control - percentage difference in array biomass, relative to control biomass. Bolded values in green are pulled directly from the manuscript, while red, italic values were calculated from biomass data. Calculated as (array - control)/control.
- Between vs control - percentage difference in between biomass, relative to control biomass. Bolded values in green are pulled directly from the manuscript, while red, italic values were calculated from biomass data. Calculated as (between - control)/control.
- Under vs control - percentage difference in under biomass, relative to control biomass. Bolded values in green are pulled directly from the manuscript, while red, italic values were calculated from biomass data. Calculated as (under - control)/control.
- Under vs between - percentage difference in under biomass, relative to between biomass. Bolded values in green are pulled directly from the manuscript, while red, italic values were calculated from biomass data. Calculated as (under - between)/between.
- Between vs under - percentage difference in between biomass, relative to under between. Bolded values in green are pulled directly from the manuscript, while red, italic values were calculated from biomass data. Calculated as (between - under)/under.
Code/software
Data can be viewed using any spreadsheet viewing software (Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, etc.). No code is required.