Join us in Rome on September 17th from 9:30 to 10:30 for an important discussion on advancing agrivoltaics in the Southern Mediterranean, as part of the Green Tech Forum. This event aims to address the region’s pressing challenges of water scarcity, food security, and energy demands through innovative solutions. 

 The Southern and Eastern Mediterranean is grappling with severe environmental and resource issues. Climate change has led to reduced rainfall, more intense heatwaves, and prolonged droughts, heightening water stress. Meanwhile, the increasing population’s demand for food is putting significant pressure on already limited agricultural land. Although the region has substantial solar potential, the rapid expansion of photovoltaic projects has sometimes strained other critical resources like land and water. 

Agrivoltaics, which combines solar energy production with agriculture, offers a promising solution. By allowing crops to grow under or between solar panels, this technology optimizes land use, reduces competition for resources, and enhances water efficiency. Despite its benefits, countries in the Mediterranean, including Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon, have not yet fully leveraged this technology. 

The event will feature a presentation of the RES4Africa report Agrivoltaics: Harvesting solar energy in the Mediterranean, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state, potential, and challenges of agrivoltaics in the Mediterranean region. Attendees will engage in a dialogue with public and private sector leaders to share experiences and best practices from agrivoltaics projects worldwide and within the Mediterranean. The discussion will also delve into the latest technological advancements, exploring their implications for large-scale implementation and identifying key obstacles to achieving their full potential. 

This gathering will promote cooperation among public entities, academic institutions, energy companies, and farmers to develop and implement strategies that accelerate the adoption of agrivoltaics systems, thereby maximizing their economic, environmental, and social benefits.  

As part of the Green Tech Forum, this event presents a valuable opportunity to engage with experts and stakeholders dedicated to fostering sustainable development in the Mediterranean. For more information and to participate, visit the Green Tech Forum website.