By Jamie Martin
Agrivoltaics—also known as agri-solar or dual-use solar—allows solar panels and farming to share the same land. Ground-mounted panels are installed high enough for grazing animals or spaced for farm equipment, so fields stay productive while generating clean power.
Sheep grazing is common, with roughly 80,000 sheep on 100,000 U.S. acres of solar farms. Panels offer welcome shade, helping animals stay cool and drink less water while lowering the need for mowing. Cattle and other livestock can graze too when panels are raised higher.
Panels also help crops. Their shade protects heat-sensitive plants, conserves moisture, and supports growth of crops like strawberries, raspberries, soybeans, zucchini, and peppers.
Pollinators thrive as well. Beekeepers set hives under panels in “solar beekeeping,” enabling bees to pollinate plants and produce honey, improving biodiversity and soil health while solar energy is collected above.
For farmers, agrivoltaics provides real economic value. Solar systems lower energy costs and, through net metering, allow farmers to sell surplus power back to utilities, diversifying income and increasing land value.
Indiana Rural Associate Abby Burnett notes that agrivoltaics helps rural communities benefit from renewable energy while keeping farmland productive. Agriculture and solar can truly grow together, creating a brighter, sustainable future for farms.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-sizsus
Categories: National