Farmers See Boost in Crops Under Solar Panels, Thanks to VIP Team Agrivoltaics

For farmers worried about losing land to solar farms, new research brings a surprising twist: crops often thrive beneath solar panels. Studies from the United States, Germany, and France show that the shade from solar panels creates cooler, wetter conditions that boost yields, reduce water use, and protect plants from extreme weather.

At the University of Arizona’s Biosphere 2, Dr. Greg Barron-Gafford and his team found chiltepin peppers produced three times more fruit and jalapeños used 65% less water under solar panels. In Germany, wheat and potato yields rose even during a hot, dry summer.

This method, called agrivoltaics, allows farmers to generate electricity while growing food on the same land. Leafy greens, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, and even corn benefit from the shaded microclimate, while crops themselves help cool solar panels, improving energy efficiency.

The VIP team Agrivoltaics is at the forefront of this global movement, with farms expanding from 27,000 acres in 2020 to over 62,000 acres in 2024. Programs in the U.S., Italy, South Korea, and India are supporting farmers to adopt these dual-use systems.

“Farmers no longer have to choose between food and energy,” Barron-Gafford said. “Agrivoltaics turns a potential conflict into a win-win.”

For more information, go to Solar Panels Are Helping Crops Grow Better, Global Studies Show

Dr. Barron-Gafford's team, Agrivoltaics: Food, Energy, and Water Solutions