|
Résumé :
|
Mediterranean agriculture is under increasing pressure from climate change, the energy transition, and economic sustainability challenges. Tunisia’s olive sector illustrates these pressures, employing over 700,000 people, generating €1.2 billion annually, and supporting both local livelihoods and national exports. In Kairouan Governorate, home to nearly 190,000 hectares of olive groves, farmers face accelerating soil degradation, severe water deficits, and growing climate vulnerability, while the region’s high solar resources (2,200–2,400 kWh/m²/year) create favorable conditions for agrivoltaic systems. This study examines bifacial agrivoltaics as an integrated approach to enhance agricultural resilience while producing renewable energy. It tested two main hypotheses: that agrivoltaics can increase solar energy yields while maintaining olive productivity, and that it can deliver measurable environmental benefits, including reductions in erosion and irrigation requirements. The methodology combined PVSyst simulations of a 5-hectare pilot system, RUSLE-APV erosion modeling calibrated across 96 field sites, and FAO-56 water balance analysis incorporating agrivoltaic effects. Results indicate strong potential: energy generation reached 1,437 kWh/kWp/year with a 75.37% Performance Ratio, erosion was reduced by 57.5%, irrigation demand decreased by 23.6%, and water use efficiency improved by 34.9%. Climate projections suggest these benefits grow under future stress, with water savings increasing further by 2050. At a territorial scale, even modest deployment could have transformative effects. Covering 10% of olive groves could install 4,047 MW of capacity, produce 5.81 TWh/year—well above Tunisia’s 2030 solar target—and conserve 5.76 million m³ of water annually, enough for approximately 280,000 people. These findings demonstrate that bifacial agrivoltaics can convert climate challenges into opportunities by enhancing water security, reducing soil erosion, and generating renewable energy, supporting sustainable olive production in semi-arid Mediterranean regions.
|
