Agrivoltaics: Crops and Solar on the Same Land

Agrivoltaics, also called dual-use solar, places photovoltaic panels and agricultural production on the same land. The concept is not new—research plots date back to the 1980s—but commercial deployment has grown as solar developers and farmers look for ways to share land. The practice changes the economics and the physical layout of a solar array in ways that are often misunderstood. This page explains what agrivoltaics actually involves, what it can and cannot do, and where it stands today.

The core idea is that panels and crops can coexist. Panels provide shade, and in hot, dry climates that shade can reduce water stress and improve crop yields. In cooler climates, the shade may be a disadvantage. The structure of the array—height, spacing, and orientation—determines how much light reaches the ground and how machinery can move. Agrivoltaics is not a single design but a range of configurations, from elevated panels that allow tractors to pass underneath to fixed-tilt arrays with wide row spacing for hand-harvested crops.

What Changes in the Array Design

The most obvious difference from a conventional ground-mount solar array is the height. Standard ground-mount panels are often a meter or less off the ground. Agrivoltaic arrays are typically raised to at least 2.5 to 3 meters to allow access for people and equipment. This requires stronger support structures and deeper foundations, which increases the cost of the mounting system.

Spacing also changes. In a conventional array, rows are spaced to minimize shading between rows while allowing maintenance access. In agrivoltaics, row spacing is dictated by the crop’s light needs and by the turning radius of farm equipment. Wider spacing means fewer panels per acre, which lowers the electrical output per unit of land. The trade-off is between agricultural yield and energy yield.

Panel orientation may also be adjusted. Vertical bifacial panels—mounted with the long edge vertical, like a fence—are used in some agrivoltaic projects. They allow more light to reach the ground between the panels and are easier to integrate with row crops. However, they capture less sunlight than tilted panels, so their energy output per panel is lower.

Which Crops Tolerate Partial Shade

Not all crops respond the same way to shade. Leafy greens, such as lettuce and spinach, are often cited as good candidates because they are shade-tolerant and have high value per acre. Root crops like carrots and beets can also do well. In contrast, most cereal grains and many forage grasses require full sun for optimal yield. The shade from panels can reduce yields by 20% to 40% for these crops.

The microclimate under panels is different: lower light intensity, cooler soil temperatures, and reduced wind. In arid regions, the shade can reduce evaporation and irrigation needs, which can offset the yield loss. In humid or cool regions, the shade may slow growth and increase disease pressure.

A common mistake is to assume that all crops will benefit from the shade. The reality is that the effect is site-specific. A crop that thrives under panels in Arizona may not do well in Germany. The only way to know is to test on a small scale.

The Economics and the Policy Context

Agrivoltaics is more expensive to build than a conventional ground-mount array. The elevated structures, wider spacing, and specialized foundation add to the capital cost. The revenue from the solar system is lower because there are fewer panels. The agricultural income—whether from crops, livestock, or pollinator habitat—must make up the difference.

In some regions, agrivoltaics is driven by policy. Certain states or countries have incentives for dual-use projects, or they restrict solar development on prime farmland unless it includes agricultural use. These policies vary widely and change frequently. Net metering, interconnection rules, and export compensation are set by the state and utility, and they affect the financial viability of any solar project, including agrivoltaics. Anyone considering a project must check the current rules in their jurisdiction.

What People Get Wrong About Agrivoltaics

The most common misconception is that agrivoltaics is a single, proven technology that can be applied anywhere. In reality, it is a collection of experimental designs. The research is young, and results are mixed. Some pilot projects report excellent yields, while others fail because the crop cannot tolerate the shade or the structure is too expensive.

Another mistake is to assume that agrivoltaics is always more profitable than either farming or solar alone. The economics depend on local land values, crop prices, electricity rates, and incentives. In many cases, the extra cost of the elevated structure is not offset by the agricultural income. Agrivoltaics is not a free lunch; it is a trade-off.

A third error is to think that agrivoltaics is the same as pollinator-friendly solar or sheep grazing under panels. Those practices are often called “dual-use” but they do not involve raising the panels or changing the row spacing. They are simply conventional arrays that allow some agricultural activity underneath. True agrivoltaics requires a design that integrates the two uses from the start.

Comparison of Agrivoltaic Configurations

The table below compares common agrivoltaic designs. The last column indicates when a given configuration is not suitable.

What to Consider Before Starting an Agrivoltaic Project

If you are evaluating agrivoltaics, start with the crop. Choose a crop that is known to tolerate shade and has a market. Then design the array around that crop’s needs, not the other way around. Work with an agronomist who has experience with shade trials. The solar developer should be willing to adjust the design based on the crop.

Check the local regulations. Some areas have zoning or land-use rules that affect agricultural solar. The utility’s interconnection rules will determine whether you can sell power and at what rate. These rules change, so verify the current version.

Finally, be realistic about the economics. Agrivoltaics is not a way to make a solar project more profitable; it is a way to preserve agricultural land while generating electricity. The value may be in the land use, not in the financial return.