Agrivoltaics Farming Solutions
Agrivoltaics farming solutions offer a powerful way to combine food production with renewable energy generation on the same land. Sheep graze beneath solar panels on an agrivoltaic farm, illustrating how agriculture and solar energy generation can coexist on a single plot. This dual-use approach, known as agrivoltaics, allows farmers to harvest food and electricity simultaneously. By elevating or spacing solar panels above pasture, the farm creates shade for livestock while the animals naturally manage the vegetation under the array.
Agrivoltaics Market Overview
As the push for renewable energy accelerates, one pressing issue is how to build new solar farms without consuming scarce farmland or harming ecosystems. Agrivoltaics farming solutions address this challenge by integrating photovoltaic panels with agriculture on the same land. In simple terms, agrivoltaics (a portmanteau of “agriculture” and “photovoltaics”) is the practice of using the same area for farming and for solar power production. This means crops are grown or livestock grazed beneath rows of solar panels, so that a farmer can harvest both crops and solar energy from the same field. In fact, agrivoltaics saves space by allowing farmers to harvest electricity and food from the same land.
Originally a niche concept a decade ago, agrivoltaic farming has rapidly gained traction worldwide. The agrivoltaics market is growing at a robust pace, driven by the need for sustainable energy and agricultural resilience. One analysis valued the global agrivoltaics market at around USD 3.4 billion in 2023 and projects it will reach USD 8.9 billion by 2033, reflecting a CAGR of roughly 10%. This growth is spurred by the promise of dual revenue streams for farmers and the environmental benefits of co-locating food and energy production. Farmers can earn passive income from selling solar power or leasing land for panels, while still maintaining crop yields – a key reason agrivoltaics farming solutions are increasingly seen as a win-win in modern agriculture.
In the following sections, we’ll explore how agrivoltaic systems work, their benefits and challenges, real-world examples, and the role of software in supporting these innovative farming solutions.
How Agrivoltaics Farming Solutions Work
Agrivoltaic systems are designed to achieve a delicate balance: provide enough sunlight and space for crops (or animals) to thrive, while capturing solar energy from above. Typically, solar panels are raised high off the ground or spaced in wide rows so that plants underneath still receive adequate light and farm machinery can pass through. In some setups, panels are mounted on fixed racks above the crops; in others, they are installed between crop rows or on movable tracking mounts. The idea is that the panels are arranged and angled in ways that crops still get enough sun, and may even be protected from extreme weather like heavy rain, hail, frost, or excessive heat. For example, an agrivoltaic array in a vineyard might be built like a “solar canopy” over the vines, shielding them from hailstorms while still letting dappled sunlight through.
In advanced agrivoltaic installations, technology takes this a step further. Some farms employ dynamic agrivoltaic systems where sensors and software automatically adjust the tilt or spacing of solar panels throughout the day. This allows the system to respond to the crops’ needs – providing more shade during the hottest part of a summer day, or more light during cooler, mild conditions. A pioneer in this field, France’s Sun’Agri, has developed algorithms that orient panels in real time based on plant stress signals and weather forecasts, essentially creating a smart shade that optimizes growing conditions for each crop.
Maintaining machinery access and safety is also paramount, so agrivoltaic panels are usually installed at a sufficient height (often 8–12 feet or more) and with sturdy structures to allow tractors, harvesters, and workers to move freely beneath them.
Interestingly, the coexistence of crops and solar panels can be mutually beneficial. The plants below help cool the solar panels by transpiring water and reducing the ground temperature, which can improve panel efficiency on hot days. At the same time, the partial shade from the panels creates a milder microclimate for the crops: soil moisture is retained longer and temperatures are a bit lower under the panels, reducing heat stress on the plants. Thus, when designed well, an agrivoltaic system creates a synergy where both crop production and solar generation benefit from each other’s presence.
Benefits of Agrivoltaics
Agrivoltaics promises a range of benefits for farmers, communities, and the environment. Below we outline some of the key benefits of agrivoltaics:
Dual Income Streams for Farmers: Agrivoltaic farms yield both agricultural products and electricity. This provides farmers with a new revenue source (selling power to the grid or leasing land to energy developers) alongside their crop income. Crucially, this extra income can buffer farmers against market fluctuations or bad harvests. Studies note that agrivoltaics farming solutions create financial convenience for farmers in the form of passive income, which has become a key driver for agrivoltaics adoption. In economic terms, the land’s productivity is maximized – for instance, farmland rental rates for solar installations in Europe can reach €3,000–3,500 per hectare, versus only a few hundred euros for farming alone. Agrivoltaics thus makes farming more profitable and resilient.
Increased Land-Use Efficiency: By producing food and energy from the same plot, agrivoltaics greatly improves land-use efficiency. A given acreage can achieve a higher combined output than it would if used for only crops or only solar. A pioneering pilot in Germany demonstrated this effect: a 0.2 MW agrivoltaic system in Heggelbach generated electricity while still growing potatoes below, achieving 160% land productivity in its first year, and up to 186% during a hot year when the panels’ shade protected the crop from heat damage. In other words, the dual-use setup yielded 1.86 times more total value (energy + crops) compared to separate operations. This efficient use of land is crucial for meeting clean energy targets without reducing farmland. As a Nature Conservancy report noted, agrivoltaics farming solutions can help expand solar capacity while minimizing the loss of farmlands and habitat – effectively feeding the world and powering it from the same acreage.
Crop Protection and Higher Yields: A well-designed agrivoltaic system can actually boost certain crop yields or quality, especially in climates with intense sun or frequent extreme weather. The solar panels act like a light filter and shelter. The partial shade reduces heat stress and evaporation for the plants, which can translate into less irrigation needed and healthier growth. For example, a trial in southern France found that grapevines grown under solar panels needed 20% less irrigation water and produced higher-quality grapes than those in full sun. Similarly, a landmark study in Arizona showed that chili peppers and tomatoes under an agrivoltaic array had higher yields and experienced less drought stress compared to open-field crops, thanks to the cooling shade. Overall, many agrivoltaics benefits for crops come from this moderated microclimate – fewer temperature spikes, protection from hail or heavy rains, and reduced sun scald. Some experiments (such as Enel Green Power’s Agrivoltaic Open Labs) even reported crop yield increases of 20–60% under solar panels for certain vegetables and herbs. While results vary by crop and region, these examples show agrivoltaics can be a tool to enhance food production in addition to generating energy.
Water Savings and Microclimate Control: The shade from panels helps soils stay moist longer by reducing evaporation. This can lead to significant water savings – a critical benefit in drought-prone regions. By one estimate, plants under solar panels can use water more efficiently, with measurements of up to 65% greater water-use efficiency observed for some crops under an agrivoltaic setup. The panels can also break the force of heavy rainfall, lessening soil erosion or crop damage during storms. Furthermore, the cooler, shaded microclimate under the array can lower overall farm temperatures, which is healthier for workers and livestock as well. Meanwhile, the crops’ transpiration cools the panels above, improving solar performance – a symbiotic feedback. In essence, agrivoltaics creates a beneficial microclimate for both plants and panels, which can improve agricultural outputs and panel efficiency simultaneously.
Environmental and Biodiversity Benefits: Agrivoltaic farming contributes to sustainability beyond just clean energy. By avoiding the conversion of farmland or wild habitat solely into solar farms, it curbs land-use change and preserves rural landscapes. Many agrivoltaics projects also incorporate eco-friendly land management. For instance, the areas under and around solar panels can be planted with wildflowers or native grasses to support pollinators and restore soil health. (These are sometimes called “solar-pollinator habitats.”) This improves biodiversity on the farm – attracting bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects that can boost nearby crop yields. Additionally, farmers often use livestock grazing under the panels as a form of natural lawnmowing. Sheep are commonly used in solar grazing; they keep weeds and grass in check without fossil-fuel mowers or herbicides, while enjoying the shade from the panels. This not only reduces the farm’s maintenance costs and carbon footprint, but also can improve animal welfare in hot climates. In sum, agrivoltaics aligns well with regenerative agriculture and conservation goals, making farms more environmentally friendly.
Of course, agrivoltaics benefits and challenges must be considered together. The advantages above are promising, but realizing them in practice requires careful planning. In the next section, we address some challenges and limitations that come with agrivoltaic systems.
Challenges of Agrivoltaics Farming Solutions
While the potential of agrivoltaics farming solutions is widely recognized, their adoption is not without hurdles. From infrastructure demands to regulatory ambiguities, farmers and developers face several challenges of adopting them—challenges that need to be carefully navigated to unlock long-term benefits.
High Initial Investment and Complex Design
One of the most significant barriers is the cost and complexity of setup. Unlike traditional solar farms or standard agricultural fields, agrivoltaics systems require customized infrastructure—elevated panels, specialized mounting systems, and integrated farm access routes. These added requirements increase capital expenditures and often require expert engineering, energy modeling, and crop science input. Without subsidies or public-private partnerships, the return on investment might seem distant for small to mid-sized farmers.
Regulatory and Zoning Barriers
Many regions still lack clear policies or frameworks that define and support dual-use land practices. In some jurisdictions, land used for solar power generation might no longer qualify as agricultural, impacting taxes or eligibility for certain government programs. This regulatory gray area can create uncertainty, delaying or discouraging investment in agrivoltaics farming solutions.
Crop Compatibility and Agronomic Uncertainty
Not all crops are suited to partial shading, and even those that are may react differently depending on local climate and soil conditions. Determining the best planting strategies, irrigation needs, and harvesting approaches under solar arrays involves a learning curve. This adds complexity for growers who are already managing multiple variables on the farm and may not have time or resources to experiment without guaranteed outcomes.
Operational Constraints and Maintenance Overlap
Combining farming and energy generation creates unique logistical challenges. Tractors and harvesters need enough clearance under panels, livestock must be managed to avoid damaging wiring, and panel maintenance teams must coordinate with planting and harvest schedules. In practice, this means tighter coordination and often more labor to ensure both sides of the system—agricultural and electrical—can operate smoothly.
Lack of Digital Infrastructure and Support
Finally, one of the most under-discussed challenges of adopting agrivoltaics farming solutions is the absence of integrated digital tools. Many farms lack access to smart monitoring systems that track crop performance under varying light conditions or automate panel tilt adjustments. Without robust software to bridge energy data with crop health data, farmers may struggle to optimize operations or identify inefficiencies.
What crops work best with agrivoltaics?
Not all plants are equal when it comes to growing under solar panels. Success in agrivoltaic farming depends greatly on selecting the right agrivoltaics crops – generally those that tolerate or even benefit from partial shade. Based on research and field trials, the best crops for agrivoltaics tend to be shade-tolerant, lower-growing species, often ones that naturally thrive in cooler or filtered-light conditions. Here are some insights into what works well (and what doesn’t) on agrivoltaic farmland:
Leafy Greens and Brassicas: Salad greens and other leafy vegetables are star candidates for agrivoltaic systems. Crops like lettuce, spinach, kale, Swiss chard, and broccoli have shown excellent compatibility with solar shading. These plants typically don’t require intense sunlight all day; in fact, too much heat can make them wilt or bolt. Under panels, they enjoy cooler temperatures and conserved moisture. For example, studies have found that shade-loving leafy greens such as kale and lettuce thrive under the solar panels of agrivoltaic farms. Farmers have reported robust lettuce yields and better quality (less sunburn on leaves) when grown beneath an array. Other brassica family crops like cabbage and cauliflower, which prefer m
Root Vegetables and Tubers: Many root crops come from cooler seasons and can do well with limited sun, making them good fits for agrivoltaics. Successful trials have been recorded with potatoes, carrots, radishes, beets, turnips, and onions under solar panels. These crops generally focus their energy below ground, and partial shade above ground can help keep the soil from drying out. In one German pilot, solar panels protecting a potato field helped maintain soil moisture and prevented heat stress, contributing to a stable yield during a hot summer. Likewise, carrots and other root veggies can benefit from reduced midday sun, which might otherwise crack or overheat them. It’s worth noting, however, that mechanical harvesting of some root crops under panels could be challenging, so panel height and spacing must accommodate harvest equipment.
Berries and Vine Crops: Berries (such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries) and certain vine crops have also thrived in agrivoltaic setups. These fruits often naturally grow in partial shade environments (think of wild berries at a forest edge) and can suffer in extreme heat. Research in Oregon found that a mix of blueberries and other berries under solar panels produced high yields and even boosted panel efficiency due to increased humidity and cooling. In Europe, some farmers are experimenting with raspberry production under semitransparent panels instead of using traditional plastic tunnel covers. The panels play a similar role in providing shade and shelter but also generate power – a double benefit. Grape vineyards, as mentioned earlier, have shown excellent results with agrivoltaics: grapes don’t need full direct sun all day, and partial shading can reduce heat stress and water needs. In fact, vines and orchards are a big focus of agrivoltaic innovation (sometimes called “solar orchards”), since the panel structures can be built higher and integrated with trellises.
Legumes and Others: Some medium-light requirement crops like beans, peas, and certain varieties of tomatoes and peppers can work if conditions are right. For instance, chili pepper and cherry tomato yields actually increased in an Arizona agrivoltaic experiment, as the plants were less water-stressed under the panels. These results are climate-specific (hot, arid environments get the most benefit from shade). In milder climates, tomatoes and peppers usually prefer more sun, so results can vary. Short-stature legumes like bush beans or peas are often fine under partial sun, and they add the bonus of fixing nitrogen in the soil, which can be good for overall farm health.
Forage and Grazing Crops: When agrivoltaics is combined with animal husbandry, the “crops” might be pasture grasses or forage plants. Grasses and clover grown under solar panels provide feed for grazing sheep or chickens in a solar-pasture arrangement. Many grasses are shade-tolerant, especially those adapted to woodland clearings. In Japan and South Korea, where thousands of agrivoltaic farms exist, common implementations include growing pasture grass or alfalfa under panels for livestock feed, allowing farmers to maintain animal production alongside solar income. These systems can keep pasture cooler and greener in hot months. Additionally, planting clover or wildflower mixes can support pollinators and enrich the soil – turning the under-panel area into a multi-use cover crop space rather than wasted ground.
On the other hand, some crops are generally not well-suited for agrivoltaics. As noted, any crops that are extremely sun-loving or very tall are problematic. For example, corn, sugarcane, soybeans, rice, and other full-sun staples tend to suffer yield losses under shade and also grow too tall to fit well beneath panels. Small grains like wheat and barley need lots of direct light during key growth phases, so they haven’t been prime candidates except perhaps in diffuse-light climates. Likewise, fruit trees (apples, cherries) usually grow too tall unless the solar installation is specifically built for an orchard (which is costly and complex). It’s telling that agrivoltaic practitioners say “no single agrivoltaics technique works everywhere” – one must tailor crop choices to the local environment and the design of the solar array. Thankfully, the array of viable agrivoltaic farmland crops is large enough (from veggies and fruits to forage and flowers) that most farms can find a combination that works for them.
4 Examples of Agrivoltaics in Action
Agrivoltaics has moved from theory to practice around the world. Below are a few notable examples of agrivoltaic farming solutions that highlight how this concept is being implemented and its real-world impact:
Japan’s Solar-Sharing Farms: Japan is a global leader in agrivoltaics adoption. As of 2023, Japan has over 3,000 agrivoltaic farms in operation. Often called “solar-sharing” in Japan, these range from small family farms with a few panels over vegetable rows to larger commercial setups. The government supports agrivoltaics as a way to keep farmland in use (preventing abandonment) while boosting rural incomes and clean energy. Many Japanese projects focus on crops like tea, mushrooms, ginseng, or leafy greens under panel arrays, as these high-value crops do well in partial shade.
European Vineyard and Orchard Projects (France & Italy): In France, several hundred agrivoltaic installations are now running, including high-profile pilots in vineyards. One such project in southern France placed adjustable solar panels over grape vines, which led to a 20% reduction in irrigation needs and improved grape quality. French agritech company Sun’Agri has deployed “dynamic agrivoltaism” in vineyards and fruit orchards – their systems use algorithms to tilt panels and protect crops from heatwaves or hail, aiming to boost yield and quality. Meanwhile in Italy, agrivoltaics is getting a major push from policymakers. In late 2023, the EU approved a €1.7 billion investment in agrivoltaics in Italy as part of COVID recovery funds. This program aims to install over 1 GW of agrivoltaic capacity by 2026, pairing solar arrays with Italian farms (from olive groves in the south to dairy farms in the north). These examples show Europe treating agrivoltaics as a strategic tool for sustainable farming and energy.
United States Demonstration Farms: Agrivoltaics is still emerging in the US, but innovative examples are proving the concept. A standout case is Jack’s Solar Garden in Colorado – a 1.2 MW, five-acre agrivoltaic farm that serves as both a commercial operation and a research site. Under its rows of panels, Jack’s grows a variety of vegetables, herbs, and pollinator-friendly plants. In fact, since 2021 Jack’s Solar Garden has produced over 25,000 pounds of veggies, herbs, and berries thanks to partnerships with local farmers and nonprofits. The farm also integrates solar grazing, hosting sheep that mow the grass under the panels, and has a section dedicated to wildflowers for bees. It’s become a national showcase, hosting tours and educational programs through the Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center. Other U.S. examples include research pilots in Arizona (where the focus has been on chili peppers, tomatoes, and pollinator habitats under solar panels) and installations in states like Massachusetts, Oregon, and Vermont where small agrivoltaic arrays are being tested with crops from hay to kale. While the U.S. only has a handful of agrivoltaic projects so far, interest is rising as results from these sites demonstrate benefits like improved soil health, water savings, and community support for dual-use solar.
South Korea’s Solar-Pension for Farmers: An interesting model is developing in South Korea, where agrivoltaics is being used to support aging farmers. The government has encouraged solar installations on farms such that older farmers can semi-retire – they earn income from the solar electricity (a sort of “solar pension”) while still growing low-maintenance crops or maintaining pasture beneath the panels. This approach addresses rural socioeconomic challenges (like an aging farming population) by turning farmland into a dual revenue source. Hundreds of agrivoltaic systems have been installed in Korea, often with ginseng, peppers, or forage crops, and with rules ensuring that a significant portion of income still comes from agriculture.
Software and IT Support for Agrivoltaic Farming
Implementing agrivoltaics isn’t just about hardware like panels and tractors – it also heavily relies on software, data, and technology support. As a provider of tech solutions, we recognize that digital tools are key to making agrivoltaic systems efficient and responsive. In fact, agrivoltaics has close links to precision farming, which improves productivity through technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), IoT sensors, and yield monitoring. Here are a few ways IT and software play a pivotal role in agrivoltaics:
Monitoring Microclimate and Crop Health: Agrivoltaic farms deploy networks of sensors to track conditions both above and below the solar panels. These sensors measure sunlight levels under the array, soil moisture, temperature, humidity, and even plant stress indicators. Through software dashboards, farmers can get real-time insights into how the microclimate created by the panels is affecting their crops. For example, if sensors detect that a crop is getting too little light or too much humidity under the panels, farmers can adjust management practices (like pruning plants, or changing panel tilt if possible). Data logging and analytics software help identify trends – perhaps showing that a certain section of the field consistently needs more irrigation due to panel shading, which can then be corrected. Such precision agriculture tools ensure that agrivoltaics doesn’t remain a “set-and-forget” system but is actively managed for optimal crop performance.
Automated Control Systems: The most cutting-edge agrivoltaic installations use automated control algorithms to actively manage panel positioning. For instance, the dynamic agrivoltaic systems by Sun’Agri in France use software that takes in sensor data (light intensity, crop water status, weather forecasts) and then computes the ideal tilt angle of each solar panel row to balance crop and energy needs. These decision-support tools are essentially agronomic models combined with control software. In the Sun’Agri case, the company partnered with agri-software experts to integrate plant growth models and big data into the panel control system. The algorithms can, say, open up (flatten) the panels during early morning and late afternoon to give crops more sun, but partially close (steepen) them at noon to provide cooling shade – all autonomously. Developing and refining such algorithms is a software challenge requiring knowledge of both agriculture and solar engineering. Our software teams can contribute by building these custom control systems, creating user interfaces for farmers to override or adjust settings, and ensuring fail-safes are in place (e.g. panels default to safe positions in high winds or if communication is lost).
Data Analytics and Simulation: Planning an agrivoltaic project benefits greatly from simulation software. Before a single panel is installed, digital models can simulate how much sunlight different parts of a field will receive with various panel layouts throughout the year. Such modeling (often using geographic information system data and solar irradiation models) helps in designing the array for minimal crop impact. Likewise, software can predict the combined economic outcome: how much crop yield might change versus how much solar energy will be produced, helping calculate the farm’s profitability under different scenarios. Researchers and companies are using tools that model agrivoltaic systems to answer questions like “which configuration gives the best trade-off for a lettuce farm in California vs. a pepper farm in India?”. On the farm, analytics can also optimize operations: for example, by analyzing panel output and crop yield data over seasons, machine learning might find patterns (like which crop varieties or panel angles yielded the best results) and suggest improvements. As a software provider, building user-friendly analytics platforms for farmers – translating sensor data into actionable farming advice – is a valuable support service we can offer to agrivoltaic ventures.
Integration with Farm Management and Energy Systems: Agrivoltaic farms straddle the agriculture and energy domains, so their software systems must often integrate both. This could mean linking solar performance monitoring (inverters, battery storage, grid connections) with farm management software (irrigation control, crop planning). For instance, if a farm management app knows that a certain block of crops is shaded for 3 extra hours due to panels, it might adjust the watering schedule or suggest a different crop for that block. Conversely, energy production forecasting software can incorporate crop cycles – recognizing that, say, after harvest when fields are bare, more sunlight might reach the ground and reflect to bifacial panels, slightly boosting energy output. From an IT perspective, creating a unified platform where farmers can oversee both their solar asset and agricultural asset in one place is ideal. This might include mobile apps that alert the user about solar equipment faults as well as soil moisture levels. Additionally, if the farm has battery storage or sells power on a smart grid, software can help optimize when to use or sell electricity, possibly coordinating with irrigation pumps or cooling systems on the farm to use solar power directly.
Decision Support and Advisory Services: Finally, software plays a role in the broader ecosystem by disseminating knowledge. As agrivoltaics is relatively new, many farmers need guidance on best practices. Online platforms or software-as-a-service tools can provide decision support – for example, recommending which crops to plant under panels given a location’s climate, or estimating the return on investment of an agrivoltaic setup. There are already tools emerging (often from research institutes or startups) that let a user input their farm size, location, and crop preferences, and then output agrivoltaic design suggestions. These tools are becoming increasingly essential to the successful implementation of agrivoltaics farming solutions, helping reduce risk and improve planning accuracy. We foresee them becoming more sophisticated, incorporating satellite data and AI to give site-specific recommendations. Our company’s experience in agricultural software could help translate the latest agrivoltaic research into user-friendly applications for farmers and renewable energy developers.
