“Instead of thinking out the box, get rid of the box.”
Deepak Chopra
As the cost of solar energy plummets, large solar installations are cropping up all over the country. This is encouraging, but one downside is these projects take up what might otherwise be arable land. I am a fan of solutions that are simple and efficient. Enter agrivoltaics: a creative energy solution.
The United States is aiming to decarbonize the electricity sector by 2035. Acceleration of solar energy is one of the major avenues to help us transition away from fossil fuels. We are on track to have solar generate 40% of our energy within ten years.
A creative energy solution
Who doesn’t love a BOGO deal at the grocery store? That’s kind the idea behind agrivoltaics. The same land is used to farm both solar energy (a.k.a. photovoltaics) and agriculture. In other words, crops are planted under and around the solar arrays.
This concept is just starting to take off, but the potential is huge. One study estimates that if just 1% of farmland in the world were converted to agrivoltaics, it would offset global energy demand. Whoa!
Some of the first agrivoltaic projects involved solar grazing. This is where sheep graze on the land around solar panels; the flock maintains the property as they feed, and they benefit from the shade. Some recent projects involve food crops. In the US, there are sites currently operating in Colorado, Massachusetts, and Maine, with others on the way. The largest US site was just approved in Ohio. While genius in theory, there are some pros and cons of agrivoltaics.
Benefits of agrivoltaics:
- Less competition for land, preserving more farmland for food
- Higher crop yields
- Shade for plants and animals
- Less evaporation and less water use
- Soil preservation
- Increased and diversified revenue for farmers
- Reduced need for fossil fuels
Challenges of agrivoltaics:
- High upfront costs
- Skepticism among some farmers and local communities
- Navigating state and local regulations
- Finding the right crops for the shade ratio provided
- Constructing the array to accommodate farming equipment
Overall, agrivoltaics represents an energy solution offering lots of promise. As with all new concepts, experience will help minimize challenges and lead to efficiencies over time. I can’t wait to hear more success stories.
Let’s do something about climate change. Learn about it. Think about it. Talk about it.