Agrovoltaic Opportunities

As the energy the U.S. receives from solar power increases, more land is allocated to hosting the solar panels that produce it. And in many cases, landowners have written off the grasses and plants below the panels. But that may not have to be the case — new research about the viability of such land is proving how productive this vacant space could be.

In a study published by in November 2018, Oregon State University researchers describe their findings that shade cast by solar panels installed on parched or waterstressed land creates a beneficial microclimate, increasing moisture retention and water efficiency, and boosting the health of the plants and soil below the panels. The plants showed higher nutritional value and productivity — the researchers measured a 90 percent increase in late-season biomass in areas under PV panels. They say these impacts should be considered when designing solar farms so the land can be “agrovoltaic,” generating both solar power and crops.