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Around the globe, agricultural practices are evolving as farmers shift focus towards harnessing solar energy. Motivated by the decreasing costs of renewable energy technologies and the increasing scarcity of water, many growers are transforming their fields by installing solar panels. Not only are they generating electricity, but some are also cultivating crops beneath these panels, which can protect plants from excessive sunlight. In other cases, farmers are allowing these shaded areas to flourish naturally, enhancing habitats for pollinators and providing forage for livestock.
A recent study highlights the financial benefits of agrisolar practices, particularly in California’s Central Valley. Over the past quarter-century, farmers who have set aside land for solar installations have simultaneously reduced costs and generated income by using solar power for essential operations, such as powering pumps and selling excess energy to utilities.
On average, the financial gains from these solar initiatives have been significant—about $124,000 per hectare (approximately 2.5 acres) each year, which is 25 times the income that could be generated from traditional crop production. The energy produced in the Central Valley has the potential to supply electricity to around 500,000 households and conserve enough water for the annual needs of 27 million individuals. “Converting one or two acres of a 10-acre farm into a solar array can provide enough financial stability to support the entire farming operation,” explained Jake Stid, lead author and renewable energy landscape scientist at Michigan State University, in the journal Nature Sustainability.
Recognized as one of the world’s most fertile agricultural zones, the Central Valley represents just 1 percent of the total farmland in the U.S., yet it produces a third of the nation’s fruits and vegetables. However, the region grapples with severe water shortages, oscillating between years of heavy rainfall and prolonged drought. The intensive agricultural practices have led to such excessive groundwater extraction that some aquifers are collapsing, causing significant land subsidence.
With limited options to reduce the water demands of their crops, many farmers are turning to solar installations. The Central Valley’s geographic attributes—its flat terrain and ample sunshine—make it particularly suited for integrating solar technology with agriculture. Farmers have benefitted from favorable rates for the energy they generate and return to the grid.
Recently, however, California implemented new standards that have significantly reduced the average rates for energy credits—by about 75 percent. This development has discouraged potential investments in solar energy by making the financial model less appealing. “The math doesn’t support the same returns as it once did,” commented Karen Norene Mills, vice president of legal advocacy at the California Farm Bureau.
The study also indicates that while land converted for solar energy production results in a decline of food calories sufficient for 86,000 people annually, Stid noted that markets can compensate by sourcing crops from other regions. Utilizing solar energy could assist California in achieving its objectives of expanding renewable energy use while alleviating groundwater depletion.
Nonetheless, balancing these goals with the necessity to produce ample food remains a concern. “We are always vigilant regarding the pressures on our food supply,” Mills remarked.
Fortunately, farmers are discovering ways to cultivate certain crops, such as leafy greens and berries, underneath solar panels. The shade provided can reduce soil evaporation, leading to less frequent watering. Moreover, a moist landscape can enhance the cooling efficiency of solar panels. “This is the compromise needed to support both energy independence and food security,” said horticulturalist Jennifer Bousselot from Colorado State University, who was not involved in the study.
In addition, some farmers are allowing livestock to graze beneath solar panels. This practice not only fertilizes the soil with animal waste, promoting plant growth and attracting native pollinators, but it also enhances the overall ecosystem beneath the panels. “The grass under the panels is remarkably lush,” noted Ryan Romack, founder of Virginia-based AgriSolar Ranch. “With long-term grazing, the benefits of added nutrients from animal droppings are particularly evident.”
Furthermore, if farmers opt not to replace solar panels at their expected end-of-life (typically around 25 to 30 years), the soil can rejuvenate naturally, making it ready for future crop cultivation. “We view solar installations as components of a broader landscape,” stated Stid. “They can be thoughtfully designed and managed to benefit people, the planet, and ecological systems simultaneously.”
This article originally appeared in Grist at https://grist.org/climate-energy/farmers-are-making-bank-harvesting-a-new-crop-solar-energy/.
Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Learn more at Grist.org.
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