The expert team of Primavera successfully completed a research task within the international project PHENIX, implemented in cooperation with Electriciens sans frontières and the Committee for Medical Aid in Zakarpattia (CAMZ), in partnership with the Zakarpattia Association for Local Development and with the financial support of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
The objective of the study was to explore the opportunities for households and small agricultural producers (owning 2–5 hectares of land) to implement agrivoltaics — the use of solar panels on agricultural land — as a tool for efficient management of water and energy resources.
The research included a rapid assessment of the challenges and opportunities for developing agrivoltaics in the region.
Through close dialogue with local communities, civil society organizations, and business representatives, the team developed conceptual models for agrivoltaic implementation based on the Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystem (WEFE) nexus. These models take into account:
- the real needs of households and small agricultural producers;
- the condition and accessibility of water sources;
- the potential for seasonal water storage in spring and summer;
- and the energy needs of agricultural production systems.
Work in the pilot area was based on a participatory approach involving all key stakeholders — farmers, local authorities, communities, businesses, and experts in water and energy systems. This approach made it possible to combine scientific analysis with the practical needs of the region, ensuring an integrated understanding of the interconnections between water, energy, food, and ecosystems.
As a result, the team developed agrivoltaic application schemes for seven different types of households, taking into account the availability of local water resources.
The findings provide a foundation for the sustainable development of rural areas in Ukraine, where innovative approaches to managing water, energy, and ecosystem resources are becoming the key to ensuring future food security.
