As solar farms are increasingly located on farmland, agrivoltaics offers a new pathway of potentially increasing farm output by combining agriculture with solar panels. The benefits could help overcome objections to using agricultural land for solar energy.
What is Agrivoltaics?
Agrivoltaics is a system where solar panels are placed on farmland in a way that farming can continue. There are three main types of systems, the USDA explained: elevated, inter-row, and a combination of the two. Elevated systems place solar panels above vegetation, usually at least 6 feet, so they can protect vegetation from extreme weather such as heavy rains or drought and also reduce sun exposure. In inter-row systems, vegetation is grown between rows of solar panels rather than beneath them. Crops usually have more access to direct sunlight than in elevated systems, and rows of panels can be spaced out widely enough to allow tractors to cultivate vegetation in between.
Dual use solar involving agrivoltaics is already utilized in more than 1 gigawatt of U.S. PV installations, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The American Farmland Trust projects that 83 percent of new solar capacity will be sited on farmland and ranchland, with nearly half of that on the most productive land, unless current policies change.
Research Shows Agrivoltaics can Increase Yield
While it might seem like putting solar panels on agricultural land would decrease farmland and crop yields, the opposite can be true when it is done correctly. A variety of studies have shown that agrivoltaics can actually increase crop yields while producing renewable energy. There are several ways solar panels can be installed to complement agricultural activities, Georgia Tech’s Yang You explained. You said fixed vertical or tilted panels provide partial shading for crops and vegetables, protecting them from excessive sunlight and offering shelter for livestock. Panels mounted on a tracking system can follow the sun throughout the day, optimizing energy capture while still allowing enough light for crops below. Elevated panels, standing as tall as 10 feet, allow tractors to pass underneath. Additionally, panels can be integrated into greenhouse structures (NREL).
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