OPEN DATA FOR DECENTRALIZED ENERGY: THE ROLE OF AGROVOLTAICS IN IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND ENERGY SECURITY OF RURAL COMMUNITIES

Abstract

The energy security of rural communities is a critical component of national resilience, yet it is increasingly threatened by the vulnerabilities of centralized power grids. This thesis presents a conceptual framework for enhancing the energy autonomy and quality of life in rural areas through the strategic implementation of agrivoltaics, guided by open data. Agrivoltaics, the co-location of solar power generation and agricultural production, is examined not merely as a renewable energy technology, but as a foundational element for creating decentralized, self-sufficient local energy systems. The proposed approach is based on a systemic analysis of open data arrays, including the State Land Cadastre, solar insolation maps, soil quality data, and local energy consumption patterns. This data-driven methodology allows for the identification of optimal locations for agrivoltaic projects, balancing energy generation potential with agricultural suitability and minimizing land-use conflicts. The conceptual framework details a process for creating techno-economic «potential maps» for rural communities, which serve as a basis for developing local microgrids. By integrating food and energy production, agrivoltaics offers a synergistic solution that directly improves quality of life through stable energy access and creates new economic opportunities via local energy cooperatives. The primary contribution of this work is the conceptualization of a scalable, data-informed strategy that empowers rural communities to achieve energy independence, thereby strengthening their socio-economic stability and resilience against systemic energy crises.