Is it suitable to farm under photovoltaic panels

Could agrivoltaic farming be a solution?

Agrivoltaic farming could be a solution to not just one but both of these problems. It uses the shaded space underneath solar panels to grow crops. This increases land-use efficiency, as it lets solar farms and agriculture share ground, rather than making them compete against one another.

How agrivoltaics improve agricultural productivity?

The shading the PV panels provide improves the microclimate beneath the solar panels and lowers the temperature on the ground, boosting agricultural productivity. A project in Algeria, for instance, has shown that agrivoltaics can lead to considerably higher yields, as well as size of the crops.

What is agrivoltaic farming?

This article was updated on 28 October 2022. Agrivoltaic farming is the practice of growing crops underneath solar panels. Scientific studies show some crops thrive when grown in this way. Doubling up on land use in this way could help feed the world's growing population while also providing sustainable energy.

Can solar panels be used in agriculture?

“This could be as simple as placing traditional photovoltaics, like crystalline-silicon, in fields of livestock, or it could involve more complex approaches, [such as] solar panels placed over fields of crops or protected cropping environments, like greenhouses. and polytunnels.”