AgriPV Systems: Potential Opportunities for Aotearoa-New Zealand A GIS Suitability Analysis

The efficient and effective use of land that agriPV, or agrivoltaic, systems offer is especially appealing for Aotearoa-New Zealand, since more than a third of its land area serves agricultural purposes. However, several factors might constrain the implementation of agriPV systems, and different values and preferences need consideration from a community acceptance perspective. As a first step, a high-level investigation into the potential suitability of agriPV systems in Aotearoa-New Zealand was undertaken. The different factors that influence performance of agriPV systems were considered. Then a GIS analysis was undertaken using the analytical hierarchy process - a multicriteria decision-making technique. The spatial data analysis provided insight to identify the regions in Aotearoa- New Zealand best suited to agriPV systems. Overall, it is estimated that 80 percent of the farmland in the country is either good or fairly suitable for agriPV developments with a number of regions identified as potential areas for further investigations.