Solar Panels Are Helping Crops Grow Better, Global Studies Show

For farmers worried about losing land to solar energy, new research brings surprising news: many crops actually produce more food when grown beneath solar panels.

Studies from the United States, Germany, and France have found that the shade from solar panels creates better growing conditions for many vegetables and crops. The yields are higher, water use is lower, and plants are protected from extreme weather.

This farming method is called agrivoltaics. It allows farmers to grow food and generate clean energy on the same land at the same time.

Crops Thriving in the Shade

At the University of Arizona’s Biosphere 2 research facility, scientists discovered something unexpected. Chiltepin peppers produced three times more fruit under solar panels than in traditional fields. Tomato production doubled.

Dr. Greg Barron-Gafford led the research. He found that jalapeño peppers grown under panels used 65% less water while producing the same amount of fruit.

In Germany, researchers tracked winter wheat, potatoes, and other crops during the hot, dry summer of 2018. Wheat yields increased by 2.7% and potato yields jumped 11% in fields with solar panels compared to regular farms.

The results challenge what many farmers learned about sunlight and crop growth.

A Cooler, Wetter Environment

The solar panels create a special microclimate underneath that helps plants in several ways.

During the day, temperatures stay cooler beneath the panels. At night, the panels trap heat and keep plants warmer. The air holds more moisture, so plants lose less water through their leaves.

“The shade provided by the PV panels resulted in cooler daytime temperatures and warmer nighttime temperatures,” Barron-Gafford explained. “There was more moisture in the air.”

This allows plants to keep growing during hot midday hours when they would normally shut down to save water. The panels also shield crops from hail, strong winds, and excessive sunlight that can damage plants.

Soil stays about 15% more moist under the panels, even with less frequent watering.

 

Solar Panels Are Helping Crops Grow Better, Global Studies Show – Microgrid Media