From niche-innovation to mainstream markets: Drivers and challenges of industry adoption of agrivoltaics in the U.S.

Advancing agrivoltaics (APV) beyond niche-innovation to full market diffusion requires interrelated technoeconomic and socio-political change. Previous applications of socio-technical transitions theory highlight which key technical, economic, social, and regulatory factors are critical to the upscaling of niche energy innovations [1] – by applying this lens to APV, we can improve our understanding of the essential drivers needed to support the stabilization of the technology. Insights drawn from recent research on the sociopolitical barriers and opportunities for APV suggest that achievement beyond niche application is contingent on enhanced techno-economic performance [2], reduced costs and complexities [3], as well as favorable regulatory frameworks [4] and socially robust designs [5]. As the U.S. APV industry is in its nascence, interactive learning processes across industry, research, and government are needed to form coordinated best practices and policy regimes that minimize adoption barriers and maximize economies of scale and value for all stakeholders. To that end, this study leverages lessons learned from solar industry engagement to outline a pathway for the diffusion of APV, with emphasis on better defining the role of policymakers. The findings identify the key drivers critical to industry adoption of APV in the U.S. and beyond.