Geospatial planning strategies for agrivoltaic systems: a review of criteria, decision models and emerging challenges

The rapid expansion of photovoltaic (PV) farms, recognized as one of the most mature and environmentally sustainable renewable energy sources, has intensified land-use competition due to population growth and increasing food demand. Agrivoltaic systems (AVS) offer a synergistic approach that integrates electricity generation from PV technology with agricultural production to mitigate land-use conflicts. However, the success of AVS projects depends on inclusive geospatial planning to identify optimal development sites that balance the requirements of both complementary applications—energy and agriculture. This review offers a critical analysis of spatial investigations conducted to date in the AVS field, preceded by an overview of the system types and their potential. The applied decision criteria and spatially based analytical methods, along with their strengths and weaknesses, are inventoried, analyzed, and discussed. The findings indicate that most spatial studies on AVS have been concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere and have predominantly relied on traditional multi-criteria decision-making models, with a notable absence of AI-driven planning solutions. Furthermore, much of the research overlooks comprehensive spatial evidence, particularly those related to soil characteristics and water availability. These gaps highlight the need for more detailed and accurate analytical strategies, guiding researchers toward improved geo-planning decisions in AVS.