Solar Energy in rural America

Solar and agriculture working together- that’s agri-solar, or agrivoltaics. This approach to solar development provides soil health benefits, promotes biodiversity, and diversifies farm incomes. There are several types of agri-solar- we’ve outlined a few below.

There is a growing market to use livestock to manage vegetation on solar farms. Solar grazing is a win-win situation for farmers and developers. In the U.S., there are an estimated 80,000 sheep grazing 100,000 acres of solar panels. Solar farms can also be constructed with cattle in mind by raising panels a few feet. The shade provided by the array can decrease heat stress and water uptake by the animals, and livestock grazing mitigates labor, fuel, and damage costs associated with mowing.

Crops such as melons, pumpkins, and many garden vegetables thrive under solar panels. Row crops, such as corn, can be grown with minimal impact on yield. Solar panels can be arranged to allow planting and harvesting equipment to pass through the rows.

A subset of agrivoltaics, known as “ecovoltaics”, creates pollinator habitat and increases biodiversity. There are many native seed mixes designed with solar sites in mind available across the country. Native plants provide soil benefits through their extensive root systems. They also provide a stable source of nectar for honeybees. This can increase the productivity of neighboring farmland. Keeping bee hives is a fairly simple addition to any solar farm. Solar grazing can also be implemented in tandem with native planting and beekeeping.