Photovoltaic Technology and Rural Landscapes: A Systematic Literature Review on Challenges and Sustainable Integration

Stefano Bigiotti (), Mariangela Ludovica Santarsiero, Carlo Costantino and Alvaro Marucci ()
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Stefano Bigiotti: DAFNE—Department of Agriculture, Forests, Nature and Energy, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Mariangela Ludovica Santarsiero: DAFNE—Department of Agriculture, Forests, Nature and Energy, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Carlo Costantino: DAFNE—Department of Agriculture, Forests, Nature and Energy, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Alvaro Marucci: DAFNE—Department of Agriculture, Forests, Nature and Energy, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 8, 1-54

Abstract: Energy supply through photovoltaic technology represents one of the most widely applied solutions in achieving energy transition goals. However, its expansion in rural contexts raises concerns due to the unique characteristics of the natural environment and the intrinsic landscape qualities of these areas. This systematic literature review examines the relationship between photovoltaic technology and the agricultural landscape, categorizing the selected studies into the following three macro-groups: the integration of photovoltaics in protected buildings and landscapes, the electrification of remote agricultural areas, and agrivoltaics as a compromise between production needs and landscape compatibility. Despite the extensive literature on the energy transition, systematic analyses of the landscape impacts of rural photovoltaics remain limited. This review addresses this gap by focusing on three key application areas marked by the tension between innovation and conservation. Through a systematic analysis conducted following the PRISMA guidelines, selecting 89 scientific publications from over 1200 evaluated sources, this review highlights the growing scientific interest in the topic and the heterogeneity of related research areas. The multidisciplinary nature of the discussion underscores the need to develop additional solutions that are more compatible with the environmental values of agricultural heritage, facilitating a more integrated and sustainable deployment of photovoltaics in high-value rural landscapes.

Keywords: photovoltaics; solar technology; renewable energy; energy sustainability; sustainable landscape; rural landscape; landscape conservation; rural buildings; cultural heritage; agrivoltaics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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