Exploring the operational potential of the forest-photovoltaic utilizing the simulated solar tree

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the operational potential of forest-photovoltaic by simulating solar tree installation. The forest-photovoltaic concept is to maintain carbon absorption activities in the lower part while acquiring solar energy by installing a photovoltaic structure on the upper part of forest land. This study was conducted by simulating solar tree installation using Google Earth satellite imagery in a mountainous area where an agrophotovoltaic system was already installed. When the simulation results were evaluated based on the installation guideline of the agrophotovoltaic system, it was confirmed that the operational potential of forest-photovoltaic was very high in almost all items of the guideline. Therefore, forest photovoltaic can be a possible alternative with priority in South Korea, where it is challenging to secure spatial competitiveness with a conventional flat fixed panel due to costly land prices. Although South Korea has been selected here as a case study, this discussion can be applied to other countries facing the disturbance risk to the forestry landscape due to solar power projects. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the world's first study exploring the possibility of the forest-photovoltaic.