Agrivoltaics: Dual-Use Solar + Farming Explained
How elevated solar systems can produce energy AND crops on the same land. System design, crop selection, and economics.
What Is Agrivoltaics?
Agrivoltaics (agro-photovoltaics or APV) is the practice of growing crops under elevated solar panels on the same land. Panels are typically mounted 2-5 meters above the ground on specialized structures, allowing farming machinery to pass beneath and sunlight to reach crops. It delivers dual income streams — energy generation plus agricultural yield — and can increase total land productivity by 60-70% compared to conventional farming or solar alone.
Best Crops for Agrivoltaics
Not all crops work. Best candidates: leafy greens (lettuce, spinach, chard), berries (strawberries, blueberries), tomatoes, peppers, aromatic herbs, ginger, turmeric, mushrooms. These benefit from partial shade especially in hot climates. Poor candidates: grains (wheat, corn) that need full sun, tall crops that interfere with panels. Livestock pasture (sheep grazing under panels) is also a common low-intensity application.
System Design Considerations
Key design parameters: panel height (2-5m typical, tall enough for tractors), row spacing (wider than ground-mount to allow light between rows), panel tilt (sometimes fixed seasonally rather than annually optimized), bifacial modules highly recommended (capture reflected light from crops/soil), water irrigation integration, pest protection netting attachment. Structural steel costs 20-40% more than ground-mount but generate additional revenue.
Economic Model
Typical agrivoltaic project economics: LCOE ~5-10% higher than optimized ground-mount due to higher structural costs. BUT: crop revenue adds $500-3000/acre/year net, land rent doubled or tripled (two uses of same hectare), policy support (France, Japan, Germany have APV incentives). Break-even typically 2-3 years longer than pure solar, but total land profitability 40-60% higher over 25 years.
Agrivoltaic Procurement Review
An agrivoltaic RFQ should identify the crop or livestock use, machinery clearance, structure, wind and snow loads, water and drainage plan, electrical design, module constraints, inspection evidence and responsible engineer. JUSTSOLAR can review product-supply requirements, but project references, model suitability, engineering, origin, freight and delivery terms require order-specific evidence and written confirmation.
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