Agrivoltaics
Agrivoltaics or agrophotovoltaics means co-developing the same area of land for both solar photovoltaic power and agricultural production.[1] The coexistence of solar panels and crops implies a sharing of solar radiation between these two types of production.[2] It can be defined as the practice of integrating solar photovoltaics with agricultural practices, for siting photovoltaic production systems on or adjacent to cropland or grazing land. It implies the symbiotic co-production of both agricultural goods and solar energy, with the intent of optimizing the combined outputs. An Ontario company calls Agrivoltaics "a perfect combination of solar panels and plants on farmland... to generate crops and energy simultaneously and without conflict." Agrivoltaics can be thought of as the scientifically planned companion planting of solar energy production and agricultural production.
This page introduces the topic and is intended to help users to find specific content based on geographic focus, climate type, crop or animal production type, and other factors.
Most Recent Additions
Abe Macy, Tyler Swanson, et al. (2025). "Designing for dual-use solar: An examination of the agrivoltaic policy landscape in the United States," Energy Policy, V205, 114682, ISSN 0301-4215, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2025.114682.
News from the U.S. Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA), October 2024, Analysis Tools Can Help Farmers Calculate Economics of Agrivoltaics, https://attra.ncat.org/analysis-tools-can-help-farmers-calculate-economics-of-agrivoltaics/ And, see: https://www.umass.edu/news/article/new-analysis-tools-umass-amherst-can-help-farmers-make-informed-choice-agrivoltaics AND https://openei.org/wiki/InSPIRE
Center for Rural Affairs, October 2024, Fact Sheet Provides Resources for Dual-Use Solar Ordinances. https://www.cfra.org/news-release/new-center-rural-affairs-fact-sheet-provides-resources-dual-use-solar-ordinances
University of Massachusetts Amherst developed a new set of analytical tools to help farmers calculate whether agrivoltaics make economic sense for them. The two spreadsheet-based tools consist of a crop-specific logbook to analyze farm-level activities and a whole-farm tool to calculate aggregate projections for trade-offs between crop production with or without agrivoltaics. The spreadsheets incorporate factors such as different solar technologies, crop spacing, labor costs, and extra fuel to navigate farm equipment around solar panels.
Agrivoltaics case studies
By geography: China, Japan, Japan, Japan, Netherlands, Ontario, Philippines, Thailand [Add more in alphabetical order, please.]
By crop type -- animals, plants
- Animal grazing [Add more in alphabetical Order, please.
- Berries:
- Fruit Orchards:
- Plants:
- Wheat:
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Cultivar
- Other specialty agrivoltaic opportunities, linked to research and case studies: greenhouses, aquaculture, hydroponics
Where does agrivoltaics fit within the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals?
Where does agrivoltaics fit within the context of the Pattern Language for a Conservation Economy and Reliable Prosperity?
Related pages on Appropedia
Welcome to the Free Appropriate Sustainable Technology (FAST) research group run by Professor Joshua Pearce, the Thompson Chair in Information Technology and Innovation at the Thompson Centre for Engineering Leadership & Innovation. He holds appointments at Ivey Business School, the top ranked business school in Canada and the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at Western University in Canada, a top 1% global university. Western is ranked #3 in the world for sustainability and Ivey is as well among business schools. FAST helps Western achieve its sustainability goals as we explore the way solar photovoltaic technology can sustainably power our society and how open-source hardware like open source appropriate technologies (or OSAT) and RepRap 3-D printing can drive distributed recycling and additive manufacturing (DRAM) (and maybe even social change).
"Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns"
"Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all"
Scholarly literature about Agrivoltaics in General
- Al Mamun, Mohammad Abdullah, Paul Dargusch, et al., 2022, "A review of research on agrivoltaic systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Volume 161, ISSN 1364-0321, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.112351.
- Barron-Gafford, G.A., Pavao-Zuckerman, M.A., Minor, R.L., et al. Agrivoltaics provide mutual benefits across the food–energy–water nexus in drylands. Nat Sustain 2, 848–855 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-019-0364-5
- Harshavardhan Dinesh, and Joshua M. Pearce, "The potential of agrivoltaic systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 54, 299-308 (2016). DOI:10.1016/j.rser.2015.10.024, open access
- Abe Macy, Tyler Swanson, et al. (2025). "Designing for dual-use solar: An examination of the agrivoltaic policy landscape in the United States," Energy Policy, V205, 114682, ISSN 0301-4215, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2025.114682.
- Majumdar, Debaleena, and Martin J. Pasqualetti, "Dual use of agricultural land: Introducing 'agrivoltaics' in Phoenix Metropolitan Statistical Area, USA," Landscape and Urban Planning 170 (2018), 150-168, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2017.10.011 Open access
- Pascaris, Alexis S., Chelsea Schelly, Laurie Burnham, and Joshua M. Pearce. "Integrating solar energy with agriculture: Industry perspectives on the market, community, and socio-political dimensions of agrivoltaics," Energy Research & Social Science 75(2021), 102023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2021.102023, open access
- Pascaris, Alexis S., Chelsea Schelly, and Joshua M. Pearce, "A First Investigation of Agriculture Sector Perspectives on the Opportunities and Barriers for Agrivoltaics," Agronomy 10(2020), n12: 1885. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10121885, Open access
- Pearce, Joshua, Agrivoltaics in Ontario Canada: Promise and Policy, December 2021, University of Western Ontario, PrePrints 2021, DOI:10.20944/preprints202112.0430.v1
- ScienceDirect search for more: https://www.sciencedirect.com/search?qs=Agrivoltaics
- Pearce, J. M. (2022). Agrivoltaics in Ontario Canada: Promise and Policy. Sustainability, 14(5), 3037.
- Pearce, J. M. (2021). Parametric Open Source Cold-Frame Agrivoltaic Systems. Inventions, 6(4), 71.
- Uzair Jamil, Thomas Hickey, and Joshua M. Pearce, 2024, "Solar energy modelling and proposed crops for different types of agrivoltaics systems," Energy Volume 304, 132074, ISSN 0360-5442, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2024.132074.
Scholarly literature about Agrivoltaics for Specific Crops and Animals
- Grapes: Prannay R. Malu, Utkarsh S. Sharma, and Joshua M. Pearce, "Agrivoltaic potential on grape farms in India," Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments 23(2017), 104-110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2017.08.004.
- Rabbits:
- Alexis Pascaris, Rob Handler, Chelsea Schelly, and Joshua M Pearce, Life cycle assessment of pasture-based agrivoltaic systems: Emissions and energy use of integrated rabbit production, December 2021, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666784321000243?via%3Dihub. Open access.
- William Lytle, Theresa K. Meyer, et al., "Conceptual Design and Rationale for a New Agrivoltaics Concept: Pasture-Raised Rabbits and Solar Farming," Journal of Cleaner Production, 282(2021), 124476, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124476, Open access
- Sheep: Kochendoerfer, Nikola, and Michael L. Thonney, Grazing Sheep on Solar Sites in New York State: Opportunities and Challenges Scope and scaling-up of the NYS sheep industry to graze ground-mounted photovoltaic arrays for vegetation management. Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, February 2021. https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs.cornell.edu/dist/c/9310/files/2021/02/Solar-Site-Sheep-Grazing-in-NY.pdf
- Pepper, Corn & Winter Wheat: Pearce, J. M. (2022). Agrivoltaics in Ontario Canada: Promise and Policy. Sustainability, 14(5), 3037.
- Kiwifruit: Jiang, S., Tang, D., Zhao, L., Liang, C., Cui, N., Gong, D., ... & Peng, Y. (2022). Effects of different photovoltaic shading levels on kiwifruit growth, yield and water productivity under “agrivoltaic” system in Southwest China. Agricultural Water Management, 269, 107675.
- Komatsuna, Mizuna, Kabu, and Spinach: KIRIMURA, M., TAKESHITA, S., MATSUO, M., ZUSHI, K., GEJIMA, Y., HONSHO, C., ... & NISHIOKA, K. (2022). Effects of Agrivoltaics (Photovoltaic Power Generation Facilities on Farmland) on Growing Condition and Yield of Komatsuna, Mizuna, Kabu, and Spinach. Environmental Control in Biology, 60(2), 117-127.
- Lettuce & Silverbeet: Nassar, A., Perez-Wurfl, I., Roemer, C., & Hameiri, Z. Improving Productivity of Cropland through Agrivoltaics.
- Bok Choy: Kumpanalaisatit, M., Setthapun, W., Sintuya, H., & Jansri, S. N. (2022). Efficiency Improvement of Ground-Mounted Solar Power Generation in Agrivoltaic System by Cultivation of Bok Choy (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis L.) Under the Panels. International Journal of Renewable Energy Development, 11(1).
- Corn: Sekiyama, T., & Nagashima, A. (2019). Solar sharing for both food and clean energy production: performance of agrivoltaic systems for corn, a typical shade-intolerant crop. Environments, 6(6), 65.
- Kale, chard, broccoli, peppers, tomatoes, and spinach: Hudelson, T., & Lieth, J. H. (2021, June). Crop production in partial shade of solar photovoltaic panels on trackers. In AIP Conference Proceedings (Vol. 2361, No. 1, p. 080001). AIP Publishing LLC.
- Potatoes: Gfüllner, L., Muller, O., Meier-Grüll, M., Jedmowski, C., & Berwind, M. Yield Optimization Through Control Strategies in Tracked Agrivoltaic Systems.
- Corn, rice, soybean, adzuki bean, garlic, onion, rye, mixed planting of corn with soybean: Jo, H., Asekova, S., Bayat, M. A., Ali, L., Song, J. T., Ha, Y. S., ... & Lee, J. D. (2022). Comparison of Yield and Yield Components of Several Crops Grown under Agro-Photovoltaic System in Korea. Agriculture, 12(5), 619.
Links
- American Farmland Trust: High-Level Guiding Principles for Solar Energy Development
- The Bridge, a periodical published by the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), publishes articles on engineering research, education, and practice; science and technology policy; and the interface between engineering and technology and society. The Spring 2022 Issue is focused on Smart Agriculture. JUNE 15, 2022 VOLUME 52 ISSUE 2. https://www.nae.edu/276483/Summer-Bridge-on-Smart-Agriculture
- Coalition for Community-Solar Access, Community Solar And Farming Are Proving To Be A Perfect Match, April 2021 by Jean Haggerty.
- Open Energy Information (OpenEI). Agrivoltaics Primer. https://openei.org/wiki/InSPIRE/Primer
- With funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, and a growing number of universities are researching solar farm designs.
- NREL: Beneath Solar Panels, the Seeds of Opportunity Sprout
- Article in Ecosystem Services, Volume 47, February 2021, 101227: Modeling the ecosystem services of native vegetation management practices at solar energy facilities
- Article in Nature Sustainability Journal: Techno–ecological synergies of solar energy for global sustainability
- February 2021 Webinar Sponsored by Solar United Neighbors:
- Video recording: https://youtu.be/BRYGY498gsU
- Chat log and registrant list (without contact information): https://bit.ly/2ZS2JRC
- Full paper and presentation slides: https://bit.ly/3ss6AkC
- Wikipedia Definition of Agrivoltaic
- Audiopedia Definition, on YouTube (Audio only), with links to additional videos about Agrivoltaics
- Search for agrivoltaics at U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Introduction to Agrivoltaics from University of Arizona
- Introduction to Agrivoltaics from Oregon State University
- Introduction to Agrivoltaics from AgDaily online magazine
Events
- Clean Energy Resource Teams (Minnesota), Habitat Friendly Solar Summit, March 9, 2022,
News Media Reports
- Heckeroth, Stephen, and Carly Rixham, "Agrivoltaics: Have your kale and eat it, too" [Electronic article], Solar Today, Spring 2021, pp. 6-11. https://ases.org/solartoday/
- Kennedy, Ryan, September 2022, "Agrivoltaics: Co-locating solar and agriculture yields mutual benefits," PV Magazine [electronic article], https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2022/09/08/agrivoltaics-co-locating-solar-and-agriculture-yields-mutual-benefits/
- National Public Radio program, 1A (“One A”), March 2, 2023, 1A Remaking America: Can Solar-Power Help Fix Drought-Ravaged Farmlands? [33 minutes], https://www.npr.org/2023/03/02/1160771088/1a-remaking-america-can-solar-power-help-fix-drought-ravaged-farmlands
- Pickerell, Kelly, "Two-year study on economic and environmental impacts of co-located solar + agriculture now underway," Solar Power World, 4 May 2021, https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2021/05/two-year-study-on-economic-and-environmental-impacts-of-co-located-solar-agriculture-now-under-way/
- Prevost, Lisa, "Connecticut solar developers enlist sheep to cut grass and ease tensions [Electronic article], Energy News Network, 3 March 2021. https://energynews.us/2021/03/03/northeast/connecticut-solar-developers-enlist-sheep-to-cut-grass-and-ease-tensions/
See also
- Floatovoltaics - Photovoltaics that float on water
- Agrivoltaic potential on grape farms in India
- The potential of agrivoltaic systems
The Western Innovation for Renewable Energy (WIRED) system is currently under construction to test out new open source methods to reduce PV systems costs and enable novel forms of agrivoltaics including the world's first agrivoltaic agrotunnel.
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Regenerative Agrivoltaics: Integrating Photovoltaics and Regenerative Agriculture for Sustainable Food and Energy Systems -
Strawberry agrivoltaics in Canada: Comparing uniform thin film and non-uniform crystalline silicon semi-transparent solar photovoltaic modules in controlled environment agriculture -
Optimizing Agrivoltaic Shading for Climate-Resilient Crop Production: Amaranth Performance Under Current and Future Climatic Scenarios -
Photosynthetically active radiation complexities in agrivoltaic policy mandates: Insights from controlled environment yields under semitransparent photovoltaics -
Should Agrivoltaics Ever Be Decommissioned? How Agrivoltaics Bolster Farm Climate Adaptation Even When Unpowered -
Transparency effects in agrivoltaics lettuce cultivation using uniform/non-uniform semitransparent photovoltaic modules in controlled environments -
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Additional value of non-electricity generating services (co-benefits) provided by non-conventional dual use solar photovoltaic systems: A PRISMA review -
Open-Source Photosynthetically Active Radiation Sensor for Enhanced Agricultural and Agrivoltaics Monitoring -
Effects of Spectral Ranges on Growth and Yield in Vertical Hydroponic–Aeroponic Hybrid Grow Systems for Radishes and Turnips -
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- Coal with Carbon Capture and Sequestration is not as Land Use Efficient as Solar Photovoltaic Technology for Climate Neutral Electricity Production
- Dual use of land for PV farms and agriculture literature review
- sheep
- Israeli white plastic reflectors
- A Farmer's Guide to Going Solar (NREL)
- German guidelines: https://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/content/dam/ise/en/documents/publications/studies/APV-Guideline.pdf
- 2021 review
- Miskin, C.K., Li, Y., Perna, A., Ellis, R.G., Grubbs, E.K., Bermel, P. and Agrawal, R., 2019. Sustainable co-production of food and solar power to relax land-use constraints. Nature Sustainability, 2(10), pp.972-980.
- Retrofitting solar parks for agrivoltaics
- Shading PV
- Alexis' talk at American Solar Grazing Association2021
In the News
From: Financial Analysis of Agrivoltaic Sheep: Breeding and Auction Lamb Business Models
- Raising sheep for grazing under solar panels makes everyone clean, green money - Western News
- Sheep Grazing Under Solar Panels Yields Green Profits Mirage News
- Agrivoltaics paired with sheep production makes nearly 100% of land grazable TechXplore
- Agrivoltaics paired with sheep production makes nearly 100% of land grazable MSN
- Grazing ’solar’ sheep offer lucrative solution for farmers My Science
- Global Renwable News
- Rinnovabili
- Education News Canada
- How agrivoltaics and “solar” sheep are redefining profitable farming in Canada PV Buzz
- Nature’s best lawnmower: How solar grazing is changing the photovoltaic landscape Euronews
- Yahoo NewZealand
- Bundle
- Photos: Sheep grazing boosts solar farms and soil health in the US and Europe Interesting Engineering
- O melhor cortador de relva da natureza: como o pastoreio solar está a mudar a paisagem fotovoltaica EuroNews
- La meilleure tondeuse à gazon de la nature : comment le pâturage solaire change le paysage photovoltaïque - Observatoiredeleurope
- Solar sheep grazing under agrivoltaic arrays can maximise land use News9
- El mejor cortacésped natural: ¿Cómo el pastoreo solar está cambiando el panorama fotovoltaico? Yahoo Spain
- ‘Solar shepherds’ earn big by grazing sheep on solar farms — and they benefit everyone involved Modern Science
- Sheep farmers are crazy about solar power plants: “Salaries are higher than lawyers” Central asia Climate Portal
- Researchers make unexpected discovery about sheep raised in nontraditional environment: 'There is an enormous opportunity' The Cool Down
- ‘Solar shepherds’ earn big by grazing sheep on solar farms — and they benefit everyone involved The Conversation
- Får och solparker - en vinst för både lantbruk, får och klimat Energinyheter (se)
- Researchers make unexpected discovery about sheep raised in nontraditional environment: 'There is an enormous opportunity' Yahoo
- Une étude révèle un duo gagnant : moutons et panneaux solaires, “un potentiel immense” Le Energeek
- ‘Farming Sunshine’ Brings Food, Power Producers Together for Local Baaa-nefit The Energy Mix
- Bùng nổ ngành nông nghiệp quang điện Saigon Online
- Solar sheep make better wool? The Carbon Almanac
- How to use sheep to manage vegetation at solar farms, boost agriculture Farm Progress
- Tarımsal Voltaik Sistemler ve Koyunlar Tarim Gundem (Turkish)
- Les « moutons solaires », un mariage lucratif entre agriculture et énergie propre Radio Canada
Agrivoltaics in Canada
- Solar Sheep, Alberta (https://www.solarsheep.ca/)
- Sun Cycle Farms, Alberta (https://suncyclefarms.com/)
- Golden Leaf Agrivoltaics, Ontario (https://goldenleafagrivoltaics.ca/)
- The Lara Cost Farm, Ontario (https://thelaracosta.com/)
- Arnprior Solar, Ontario (https://www.edf-re.com/project/arnprior-solar/)
- Lewis Land & Stock, Ontario (https://solargrazing.org/asga-call-29-don-lewis-from-lewis-land-stock-of-ontario-canada/)
- Nanticoke Solar, Ontario (https://www.opg.com/stories/hundreds-of-grazing-sheep-helping-to-keep-opgs-nanticoke-solar-facility-in-trim-shape/)
- Western University’s Western Innovation for Renewable Energy Deployment (WIRED) (https://www.appropedia.org/Western_Innovation_for_Renewable_Energy_Deployment_(WIRED))
- Orchard, Middlesex, Ontario
- Solar Grazing Map https://solargrazing.org/map/
References
- ↑ Dinesh, Harshavardhan; Pearce, Joshua M. (2016). "The potential of agrivoltaic systems". Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 54: 299–308. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2015.10.024.
- ↑ "A New Vision for Farming: Chickens, Sheep, and ... Solar Panels" (in en). 2020-04-28. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
| Authors | Tom Stanton, Uzair Jamil |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Cite as | Tom Stanton, Uzair Jamil (2021–2025). "Agrivoltaics". Appropedia. Retrieved November 28, 2025. |