By Andi Anderson
In the scorching Southwest, a new farming approach called agrivoltaics is helping both crops and solar panels thrive. Agrivoltaics combines agriculture with solar energy by growing plants or grazing livestock under solar panels. This practice has proven especially helpful in hot, dry regions like Arizona and Colorado.
University of Arizona researcher Greg Barron-Gafford has studied this method for over a decade. He found that the shade from solar panels reduces crop heat stress and conserves water, while plants release moisture that cools the solar panels and improves their performance. “We were getting basil leaves the size of your palm,” Barron-Gafford said.
In Boulder County, Colorado, Jack’s Solar Garden uses agrivoltaics to grow crops like greens and tomatoes beneath 3,276 solar panels. Farmers there have seen bigger, tastier produce and less water use. “The spinach is sweeter too,” said Meg Caley from Sprout City Farms, noting that shaded crops don’t bolt early.
Solar panels can also offer protection for farmworkers. Shade helps reduce heat exposure, which is important as climate change increases the number of extremely hot days. Tests show skin temperatures can be over 15 degrees cooler under solar panels.
However, agrivoltaics face challenges. High startup costs and concerns from farmers—like limited equipment space and fear of soil contamination—slow its adoption.
A small agrivoltaic system can cost tens of thousands of dollars. While federal programs like the Rural Energy for America Program offer support, budget cuts have created uncertainty.
Still, projects like Colorado’s Agrivoltaics Research Grant and farms like Jack’s show the practice is gaining ground. Advocates say it’s a way to preserve farmland while producing renewable energy. “We don’t have to choose,” Caley said. “We can have both.”
As the Southwest grows hotter, agrivoltaics may become a vital tool for sustainable farming and clean energy.
Photo Credit: istock-shansekala
Categories: National