Why farmers are pairing crops with solar panels

Traditionally, solar panel farms have been quiet, except for the faint hum of inverters. However, a new sound is emerging as sheep graze under these panels. This practice, known as agrivoltaics, is a growing strategy that pairs crops or livestock with renewable energy infrastructure. Agrivoltaics offers benefits for both the animals and the energy production.

The panels can provide shade for crops and livestock, creating cooler, damper conditions that boost yields. Solar panels also perform better when cooler, as they produce more electricity per watt of sunlight. In Europe, implementing agrivoltaics on just 1% of available agricultural land could surpass solar energy targets for 2030. However, uptake has been slow, with agrivoltaics representing only 18.4 gigawatts of energy worldwide as of mid-2025, less than 1% of global solar capacity.

Agrivoltaics has three main types: horizontal, where panels are perpendicular to the ground, vertical, where they're placed in large rows, and integrated, often installed atop greenhouses. Shade-tolerant crops, such as berries, grapes, tomatoes, peaches, and peppers, tend to benefit from this setup. The panels can also prevent water from evaporating too quickly, creating a more humid microclimate that benefits the soil, albeit potentially introducing plant disease.

Sheep have proven to be an ideal partner for agrivoltaics. Compared to cattle or goats, they are easier to manage around solar infrastructure, less likely to damage equipment, and small enough to fit beneath the panels. This arrangement has provided farmers with a new income stream, as sheep manure fertilizes the soil and requires less herbicide. Agrivoltaics addresses climate mitigation and adaptation, offering a win-win scenario for both the environment and farmers.

While agrivoltaics offer numerous benefits, they may not work everywhere. In arid regions of the American West, where heat stress and limited water availability threaten crops, yields have remained the same or even increased under panels. In contrast, the humid Midwest experiences reduced yields in maize and soybeans due to shading.

Farmers may face higher costs associated with installing agrivoltaics, as every added inch to mount panels higher requires more labor and steel costs. Additionally, farmers may need to adapt their equipment or methods to work with this new system.

Despite these challenges, agrivoltaics present a promising solution for producing cheaper and more efficient energy while benefiting crops that struggle due to rising temperatures or volatile weather. As climate change continues to make regions drier, agrivoltaics can mitigate crop yield penalties and improve overall profitability. However, the success of agrivoltaics relies on farmers sharing experiences and learning from one another, as there is a chicken-and-egg problem in identifying successful implementations.