Why Egyptian farmers are growing crops under solar panels
The additional shade reduces evaporation and stress on the plants, all while generating clean electricity.
Ancient Egyptian civilization thrived along the Nile, which provided fertile soil and ample water. As modern Egypt faces water shortages and rising temperatures, farmers are turning to innovative techniques to protect their crops. Agrivoltaics, the practice of installing solar panels over farmland, is gaining traction. By generating clean electricity and providing shade, the panels reduce evaporation and heat stress on crops.
Two pilot projects in Egypt are testing agrivoltaics in small farming communities. Researchers have discovered that plants evolved to grow in dappled light can actually thrive under the shade of solar panels, as their roots evolved to absorb limited sunlight. The panels also minimize water loss from the soil, making agriculture more resilient.
Some crops may be better suited for agrivoltaics than others, but early results show promise. In Colorado, cucumbers grown under panels are reaching record sizes. Egyptian farmers will likely continue growing their traditional crops, but agrivoltaics offers a way to adapt to the changing climate. The program aims to collect data on the performance of plants and panels to inform larger deployments of this technology.
Written by urgent.news from Grist's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
