Mónica Bárcenas-Pazos, doctoral researcher in the MHEI group, has published a new study in Energy Reports on the spatial patterns of solar park development in Mexico and its implications for agricultural land and agrobiodiversity.

The study provides the first national-scale analysis of solar park siting in Mexico, revealing that most utility-scale solar parks are located on agricultural land and shrublands, often overlapping with areas of high agrobiodiversity value for native crops such as maize and agave. The findings highlight critical trade-offs between renewable energy expansion and the preservation of traditional farming systems, food sovereignty, and rural livelihoods.

The paper is available open access at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2026.109625