Why farmers are pairing crops with solar panels
From cooler soil to paid grazing land, farmers are finding solar panels can do more than generate power.
In recent years, an innovative approach called agrivoltaics has emerged, where farmers pair crops or livestock with solar panel installations. This strategy is gaining traction across the United States and Europe as a means to enhance both solar energy production and agricultural productivity. Sheep are often the preferred animals to graze beneath these panels, benefiting from the shade and cooler temperatures created by the panels, which can also help prevent water evaporation and create a more humid microclimate that favors soil moisture and plant health.
The potential of agrivoltaics is significant, particularly as climate change intensifies heat stress on agricultural lands. If implemented on just 1% of available agricultural land in Europe, agrivoltaics could surpass the continent's solar energy targets for 2030. Currently, agrivoltaics represent only 18.4 gigawatts of energy globally, accounting for less than 1% of the world's solar capacity.
The concept dates back to 1981 when German scientists proposed the idea of growing potatoes beneath solar collectors, with the first pilot project starting in Japan in 2004.
There are three main types of agrivoltaics: horizontal, vertical, and integrated systems. Shade-tolerant crops such as berries, grapes, tomatoes, peaches, and peppers are among the beneficiaries of this setup. Solar panels also protect crops from harsh environmental conditions and help divert water to them, creating optimal growing conditions. Moreover, sheep manure acts as a natural fertilizer, and the use of these sites may require fewer herbicides, leading to increased sustainability.
While agrivoltaics holds promise for addressing both climate mitigation and adaptation, its adoption has been slow. In the United States, sheep farming faces economic challenges, and agrivoltaics presents a unique opportunity for this industry by providing additional income streams. Despite the numerous benefits, challenges remain, such as the need for specialized equipment, potential reductions in crop yields in certain climates, and the high costs associated with installing agrivoltaic systems.
Farmers are increasingly interested in learning from others who have successfully implemented agrivoltaics, hoping to share knowledge and overcome the "chicken-and-egg" problem of lack of peer-to-peer examples. The concept of agrivoltaics offers a promising solution to the growing concerns of climate change, renewable energy production, and sustainable agriculture.
Written by urgent.news from DW English (Top Stories)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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