By Jamie Martin
Agrivoltaics is changing how farmland is used by combining solar energy production with agricultural activities. This approach is helping farmers create new income while supporting clean energy efforts.
In central Illinois, sheep farmer Bryant Parker is using solar farms as pasture. His flock grazes under solar panels at a site that spans 35 acres. The system produces clean energy while providing fresh grass for livestock.
Parker, who operates Tin Can Farms with his wife Jessica, transports his sheep between multiple solar locations. He saw an opportunity in the unused land beneath solar panels and partnered with developers to use it productively.
Solar companies also benefit from this system. Grazing sheep keeps vegetation at the right height, improving panel performance and reducing maintenance costs. This natural method is more cost-effective than machine mowing over time.
The rise of agrivoltaics is linked to increasing solar development and economic pressure on farmers. Leasing land for solar projects often provides more stable returns than traditional crops like corn and soybeans.
“We want good establishment of vegetation on site to avoid erosion concerns. But then we also don’t want the vegetation to get too high so that it’s shading the solar panels and we’re losing energy production,” said Angie Burke, director of land stewardship at the Denver-based Pivot Energy. “Sheep kind of meet in the middle and strike the right balance.”
Although renewable energy projects sometimes face concerns about land use, studies show they occupy a very small share of farmland. Agrivoltaics helps balance this by allowing continued agricultural use.
Researchers and experts are studying ways to expand this model. Trials include growing shade-tolerant crops like spinach and basil under solar panels and developing designs that support both crops and energy generation.
“This land is all competing for the same sunlight,” said Tim Mies, director of the University of Illinois Energy Farm in Urbana. “So, what’s the trade-off? How far do you have to space them apart? We have to understand that balance to properly make recommendations and let the community know how they can apply this.”
While crop-based systems are still developing, livestock grazing—especially sheep—has proven effective and widely adopted. Farmers see it as a practical and low-risk option.
Photo Credit: istock-shansekala
Categories: National