Agrivoltaics: Balancing Energy & Agriculture
- Craig Kaiser
- Oct 3
- 7 min read
Imagine a farm where crops grow lush and healthy under the protective shade of solar panels, which are simultaneously generating clean energy. This isn't a scene from a science movie; it's the reality of agrivoltaics, an innovative approach that marries agriculture with solar energy production on the same piece of land. By sharing land, we can tackle two of the world's most pressing challenges: producing enough food for a growing population and transitioning to renewable energy.
This post will explore the world of agrivoltaics. We will break down what it is, how it works, and the significant benefits it offers to farmers, communities, and the planet. We'll also look at real-world examples, discuss current challenges, and consider the bright future of this dual-use land strategy.
What is Agrivoltaics?
Agrivoltaics is the practice of using the same piece of land for both agricultural activities and solar energy production. This creates a mutually beneficial relationship between farming and renewable energy. This innovative approach grows crops or raises livestock beneath, between, or on top of solar panels. This offers benefits such as protecting plants from extreme weather, increasing farm profitability, reducing water usage, and providing a dual revenue stream for landowners.
So, how does agrivoltaics work? Solar panels are typically installed on mounting structures high enough off the ground to allow for farming activities underneath. This could mean leaving enough room for tractors to pass, for livestock to graze, or for workers to tend to crops. The layout and density of the panels are carefully designed to create a balance between sunlight for the crops and energy generation.
Types of Agrivoltaics & Examples
Agrivoltaics can be implemented in various ways, depending on the specific needs of the crops, climate, and available space. Different systems have been developed to maximize the benefits of combining agriculture and solar energy production. The most common types of agrivoltaics are livestock grazing, crop production, and pollinator systems.
Livestock Grazing Agrivoltaics
Livestock grazing agrivoltaics combines solar farming with grazing livestock. It involves using animals to manage vegetation on solar farms, creating an additional agricultural benefit. While cattle are used in some solar projects, sheep grazing is more common because they can easily move underneath and around solar panels, and they are an effective tool for controlling weeds and invasive plants.
Example: The High Point County Solar Farm in Illinois is a prime example of livestock grazing agrivoltaics. Managed by ACCIONA Energy, this 500-acre solar farm incorporates over 450 Dorper sheep supplied by Gerlach Farms, a third-generation family business. The solar farm began operations in 2023. The sheep graze the land underneath the solar panels, improving soil health by keeping it fertile and returning essential nutrients to the ground.
Livestock grazing agrivoltaics offers multiple benefits. Solar panels provide shade for animals and reduce farm maintenance costs. Using sheep instead of mowers improves soil health, preserves rural land, and provides farmers with an additional income stream. Sheep also act as pollinators, spreading seeds across the landscape.
Crop Production Agrivoltaics
Crop production agrivoltaics is the practice of growing crops on the same land as a solar farm. This approach uses solar panels to create a favorable microclimate that protects crops from harsh weather and increases resource efficiency, such as water use. Some studies show crop agrivoltaics improves yields, protects crops from drought, and prevents erosion. By keeping the ground cooler during the day and warmer at night, agrivoltaic systems help retain soil moisture, reducing the water needed for irrigation. Even farms adjacent to a dual-use solar site may benefit. This is noteworthy as pollinators contribute over $18 billion in revenue to U.S. crop production annually.
Example: In Boulder County, CO, Jack's Solar Garden exemplifies crop agrivoltaics. This 1.2 MW community solar farm powers over 300 homes and produces a handful of sun-loving crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. It stands as a national model, showing governments, solar developers, and farmers how to produce renewable energy while maintaining agricultural output through agrivoltaics.
The best crops for agrivoltaics are shade-tolerant plants that thrive in the partial shade provided by solar panels. These include leafy greens like lettuce and spinach, root vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, radishes, and beets, as well as berries like strawberries and blueberries. In contrast, crops that require full sun, such as corn, sunflowers, and tall fruit trees, are generally unsuitable for agrivoltaic systems.
Pollinator Agrivoltaics
Pollinator agrivoltaics involves growing wildflowers to support local pollinators like butterflies, bats, bees, and beetles. The Department of Energy (DOE) states that pollinators, like bees and butterflies, are vital for 35% of global food crop production. Pollinator agrivoltaics offers a new approach for clean energy and pollinator habitats to coexist. By planting suitable flora under and around ground-mounted solar arrays, we create beneficial habitats for these crucial pollinators while simultaneously generating solar energy.
Example: A solar project on former President Jimmy Carter's farm in Plains, Georgia, now generates clean energy for his hometown while also supporting wildlife through pollinator-friendly practices. Opened in 2017, the 1.3 MW solar array honors Carter's commitment to renewable energy and his wife Rosalynn's efforts to restore pollinator habitats.
Greenhouse Agrivoltaics
Greenhouse agrivoltaics combines photovoltaic (PV) panels with greenhouse structures, enabling the simultaneous production of solar energy and agricultural crops in a shared environment. These systems create a controlled climate for plants, reduce water usage through shading, and can repurpose residual water from the panels for irrigation. They also generate clean electricity, offering a sustainable and cost-effective solution for modern food production.
Example: The Denver Botanic Gardens is an example of a greenhouse Agrivoltaics installation. It features a 1.2-MW, 4.5-acre agrivoltaics facility at its Chatfield Farms location. This 700-acre native plant refuge and working farm is located about 20 miles southwest of downtown Denver, Colorado. Under the solar array, Chatfield Farms staff will develop an agrivoltaics demonstration and production farm. It grows mixed vegetables, herbs, and fruit for Chatfield Farms’ food partners and its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. It also offers educational resources to visitors and farmers. Additionally, Chatfield Farms receives approximately 250,000 kWh per year of discounted power from the solar array.
Why Would Farmers Choose Agrivoltaics?
Farmers choose agrivoltaics because it provides them with a way to maximize the use of their farmland while strengthening their business. With fluctuating commodity prices, solar lease payments provide a reliable and consistent income stream. This helps farmers diversify their revenue, enhance financial stability, and keep their fvarms within the family.
Additionally, the concept of agrivoltaics isn't just about placing solar panels over plants. It's a symbiotic system that benefits both the farmers, the land, and the crops or livestock. The panels can protect crops and animals from excessive sun, heat, and hail, while the crops, through a process called transpiration, can cool the air around the panels, making them more efficient.
The benefits of agrivoltaics extend to local communities. With agriculture being the backbone of many rural economies, dual-use solar can play a key role in boosting these areas as solar installations expand nationwide. This system allows for partnerships with local businesses like beekeepers and livestock owners, who can benefit from these solar farms. Additionally, solar projects create jobs, diversify local tax bases, and deliver long-term economic benefits to entire communities, helping to preserve the rural way of life.
Farmers interested in reaping the benefits of agrivoltaics can list their land for solar energy leases for free on LandApp's Marketplace, connecting directly with agrivoltaics developers looking for their next project. There are no fees, commissions, or obligations to accept offers.
Challenges of Agrivoltaics and the Path Forward
Despite its immense potential, agrivoltaics faces some hurdles that need to be addressed for widespread adoption. The main disadvantage of agrivoltaics is its high upfront cost. Dual-use solar systems require larger, more complex mounting structures compared to conventional ground or roof-mounted PV, which can cost up to three times more than flat-roof PV installations. Furthermore, they need deeper steel foundations for stability in adverse weather, leading to higher embodied carbon emissions.
There is also a need for more research on crop compatibility. Not all plants are suitable for growing in partial shade. Extensive studies are required to identify which crops, soil types, and climates are best suited for agrivoltaic systems. This includes optimizing panel spacing and height to ensure both crops and panels receive adequate sunlight.
Finally, policy and regulatory frameworks often lag behind technology. Zoning laws, land-use regulations, and utility interconnection agreements may not be designed to accommodate dual-use systems. Streamlining these processes and creating financial incentives, such as tax credits or grants, will be crucial for accelerating adoption.
Despite these challenges, agrivoltaics offers significant potential: it produces more renewable energy and food while using less water. This enhances the security of three critical natural resources, creating a unique synergy. As the Earth's population grows and resource competition increases, finding this balance is essential. Studies estimate that covering less than 1% of the world’s cropland with PV could generate all current global electricity demands, positioning agrivoltaics as a powerful solution. Nearly 600 agrivoltaic projects already exist across the United States as of October 2025.
How Can Farmers Get Started with Agrivoltaics?
Farmers can find agrivoltaics grants at the federal level through the USDA's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and various Department of Energy (DOE) programs. To find specific opportunities, check the USDA, DOE, and state agriculture department websites, along with organizations like the AgriSolar Clearinghouse. Many states also offer direct grants for agrivoltaics projects, though availability varies. For example, Colorado's Agrivoltaics Research and Demonstration Grant Program has awarded $1 million to thirteen projects in its first two years.
Farmland owners can also list their land for lease for solar energy for free on LandApp's Marketplace to connect with agrivoltaics developers actively seeking sites for their next project. There are no fees, commissions, or obligations to accept any offers.
