AgriSolar (or agrivoltaics or dual-use solar) is the simultaneous use of areas of land for both solar photovoltaics (PV) power generation and agriculture. Examples abound of farmers co-locating solar panels and livestock (sheep or cattle) as well as farmers growing vegetables under solar.
AgriSolar solutions increase farm revenue and appeal to consumers. Pilots suggest that some vegetable crops perform better in the partial shade of a solar panel. Check out the links below to learn more about the benefits of specific pairings.
Learn more about how you can leverage new federal funding can make these solutions even more affordable.
The USDA page has some handy graphics about land use as well as links to research and real-world AgriSolar applications.
The DOE is supporting research to understand how co-locating solar and agriculture affects both solar and food production.
NREL showcases a variety of ways that solar panels can be installed to optimize agricultural benefits.
The AgriSolar Clearinghouse provides numerous resources about agrisolar opportunities, including information about existing operations across the US.
