Could Agrivoltaics Be the Lifeline United States Farmers Need?
Farmers face increasing financial pressures according to Farm Aid, a growing solution may lie in the rising sun. We love the sun!
Agrivoltaics is the practice of combining agriculture with solar energy production on the same plot of land.
It could be the key to revitalizing struggling farms while helping the nation meet its clean energy goals.
Incorporating solar panels into farmland offers a compelling dual benefit.
Farmers generate and sell excess solar power to create supplemental income, the panels also helps reduce water evaporation.
This natural cooling effect lowers the need for irrigation — a critical advantage in regions facing drought or water shortages. And the benefits aren’t just economic.
By making better use of existing land, agrivoltaics can help countries like the U.S. reduce carbon emissions without taking farmland out of production.
Could Agrivoltaics Be the Lifeline United States Farmers Need?
- Agrivoltaics is the practice of co-locating solar panels and agriculture, maximizing land use efficiency for food and energy production.
- Farmers can grow crops under solar panels, benefiting from partial shade that reduces water evaporation and helps prevent heat stress.
- This innovative method addresses the global demand for renewable energy while supporting sustainable farming and rural economic development.
- Solar panels are often mounted higher to allow machinery and workers to access the crops beneath them without obstruction.
- Certain crops like leafy greens, berries, and root vegetables thrive in the microclimate created by the overhead solar structures.
- Agrivoltaics reduces competition between energy and agriculture, offering a practical solution to land scarcity and climate change mitigation.
- Research shows agrivoltaic systems improve land productivity and provide additional income streams for farmers through energy sales and lease agreements.
As of January 2025, the U.S. has more than 500 active agrivoltaics sites, which add a total of 9 GW of solar capacity to the grid.https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2025/01/07/agrivoltaic-pilot-program-announced-in-new-jersey/
