Renewable Energies in the Agricultural Sector: A Perspective Analysis of the Last Three Years

TL;DR

This bibliometric study analyzes global research trends from 2019 to 2021 on renewable energies in agriculture, highlighting key contributors, emerging themes, and technological advances to guide future sustainable development.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of recent research trends, key players, and technological innovations in renewable energy applications within agriculture over the last three years.

Findings

Increasing publication trend with a peak in 2021

Identification of major thematic clusters in renewable agriculture research

Highlights of technological advances like agrovoltaic systems and biogas from waste

Abstract

Over the last three years, research on the application of renewable energies in the agricultural sector has grown significantly. In this study, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of global scientific production from 2019 to 2021 to identify trends, leading contributors, and emerging research areas. Based on 1378 documents retrieved from Scopus, we observed a clear upward trend in publications, with a peak in 2021. India, China, the United States, Italy, and the United Kingdom were the most productive countries, while key institutions from China, Iran, and the Netherlands led the research output. Our results reveal five major thematic clusters: renewable energy technologies in agriculture, bioenergy, sustainable agriculture, biomass energy, and the environmental impact of agricultural activities. Notable advances include agrovoltaic systems, the use of agricultural and livestock waste for biogas production, and the development of agricultural robots powered by renewable energy sources. Additionally, there is increasing interest in examining the links among agriculture, renewable energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions, aligned with global sustainability goals. This analysis highlights the evolution of the field, international collaboration patterns, and the most influential research lines, offering valuable insights to guide future scientific developments in integrating renewable energies within the agricultural sector.