Solar meets soil: Report says agrivoltaics could redefine rural prosperity

A new report shows how a developing system called agrivoltaics has the potential to offer a much-needed economic option for Wisconsin farmers, while redefining solar development as a tool for prosperity rather than a threat to it. Agrivoltaics is a dual-use concept that integrates farming and solar panels on the same land.

Asher Salkin, a research intern with the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, authored the report outlining both the opportunities and the challenges. He said agrivoltaics can ease land-use conflicts while creating benefits for farmers, developers, and rural communities.

“A couple different ways this could work,” he explained. “The solar panels sit on top of the crop — a shade-tolerant crop pairs well with a solar panel. And then on top of that, there’s also solar grazing, where you put solar panels on a field where sheep graze.”

Salkin said research shows converting just one percent of U.S. farmland into agrivoltaics could meet a significant portion of the nation’s renewable-energy targets without reducing food production. But critics argue the approach could reinforce socioeconomic inequalities, mirroring issues seen in other renewable-energy projects.

While agrivoltaic installations have expanded rapidly in the U.S. since 2020, Salkin noted challenges remain. Funding cuts and institutional barriers make rollout difficult, and farmland projects often face tough permitting battles despite research showing economic benefits.

“Solar actually increases land value, which is good for owners and bad for renters,” he said. “There are drawbacks, but a 20% increase in land value is not to be ignored.”

Salkin added that supportive policies and more public awareness will be necessary to build farmer trust and expand agrivoltaics across more agricultural settings.