Agrivoltaic Systems

Agrivoltaic systems co-locate solar PV arrays with crops, elevating or spacing panels to provide adjustable shade that reduces soil evaporation and heat stress while crop transpiration cools modules to boost energy yield. Tracking systems, diffused glazing, and AI-driven tilt adjustments balance photon delivery between crops and panels.

Farmers lease land to energy developers or operate dual businesses, creating predictable revenue streams while maintaining food production. Projects in Europe, Japan, and the US demonstrate improved yields for shade-tolerant crops like lettuce, berries, and forage under semi-arid conditions while supplying clean energy directly to irrigation pumps or cold storage.

Scaling agrivoltaics involves co-designing farm equipment paths, developing crop-specific shade recipes, and navigating interconnection permitting. Future deployments will integrate drip irrigation, pollinator habitat, and carbon credits, turning agrivoltaics into multi-service agro-energy hubs. Policy incentives that recognize dual-use benefits will accelerate mainstream adoption.