Agrivoltaics, the integration of solar panels with agricultural activities, has gained traction as a sustainable solution to address climate change while addressing land-use challenges. Initially focused on crops, such as fruits and vegetables, grown beneath solar panels, the practice has expanded to include grazing livestock, mainly sheep, and the cultivation of native grasses or pollinator habitat under solar installations.
Federal support for agrivoltaics has surged, with agencies like the USDA and the U.S. Department of Energy allocating significant funding. DOE’s investment more than tripled from 2021 to 2022, with $8 million dedicated to a new initiative examining the benefits of agrivoltaics for farmers and rural communities.
In 2021, USDA allocated $10 million for agrivoltaics research through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, with an additional $2.2 million provided through the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities in 2022. Furthermore, the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service initiated three agrivoltaics research projects in 2023, focusing on sustainable agricultural systems in the northern Great Plains and best practices for managing crop and livestock agrivoltaics systems in the Southwest.
As of 2024, agrivoltaics systems primarily feature grasses, including native varieties, and pollinator-friendly vegetation beneath solar panels. Approximately a quarter of agrivoltaics sites incorporate sheep grazing, while less than 5 percent involve crops, typically fruits or vegetables. These systems are typically smaller than large-scale solar farms, with 70 percent having a capacity of less than 5 megawatts, although capacity ranges from less than 0.01 megawatt to 660 megawatts.
The agrivoltaics sector continues to evolve as researchers explore innovative ways to combine clean energy production with agricultural practices.