The Rise Of United States Agrivoltaics

Agrivoltaics, also known as agricultural photovoltaics, is an emerging technique that combines solar power generation with agriculture on the same piece of land. This dual-use approach allows farmers to generate renewable energy while simultaneously cultivating crops beneath solar panels mounted on structures several feet above the ground. The concept first gained attention in the late 2000s but has seen significant growth in the United States over the past decade as researchers, startup companies, and government agencies have explored its potential. Some of the early adoption drivers and developments that helped propel agrivoltaics in.

America Include:

– Research on the microclimatic impacts of solar panels above crops which found they provided various benefits like reduced evapotranspiration and weed growth. United States Agrivoltaics alleviated farmer concerns about impacts on yields.

– Pilot projects launched by the Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture, and national labs to test agrivoltaic designs and crops in different climates. Results showed stable or higher crop yields compared to open-field agriculture.

– Startup companies like Borrego Solar and Solartic emerged to develop and commercialize agrivoltaic systems tailored for various crops and regions. Their demonstrations attracted interest from larger energy developers.

– Renewable portfolio standards and solar incentives in many states created  pull for innovative solar applications like agrivoltaics that optimized land use.

By the mid-2010s, awareness and adoption of the dual-use approach had grown sufficiently for agrivoltaics to be recognized as a viable solar land use option, particularly in the Midwest and Caribbean regions.

Optimal Designs For Major Crops In United States Agrivoltaics

As research expanded on different crops, optimal agrivoltaic designs and best management practices emerged for major commodity crops. Some examples include:

– Vineyards: Raised solar structures 7-10 feet high with wider panel spacing of 10-12 feet between the rows allows sufficient sun penetration for grape vines below. Some vineyards saw yield increases of 15-30% under partial solar shading.

– Row Crops: Designs for vegetables, corn, soybeans involve mounting panels on vertical structures 8-10 feet above crop rows spaced closer together at 6-8 feet. This configuration maximizes solar generation while maintaining favorable microclimate and yields.

– Citrus Orchards: For oranges, lemons, and lime trees, solar panels are installed on horizontal single-axis trackers positioned 10-12 feet over the tree canopy. This setup introduces optimal light diffusion and shading without compromising fruit production.

– Pastureland: For cattle grazing, panels are mounted at a higher 14-16 feet height on poles anchored into the ground. This dual-use of pastures allows for both livestock grazing and large-scale solar deployment.

– Mixed Crops: Community supported agriculture farms have piloted more flexible agrivoltaic designs using removable panels on carts that can be repositioned over different crop areas as needed throughout the year.

This tailoring of designs and crop management for different agricultural systems has been vital to demonstrate agrivoltaics as a viable land use rather than a threat to production yields. It has given farmer confidence to invest in dual-use projects.

Benefits Beyond Energy Production

While renewable energy generation is a primary advantage, agrivoltaic systems can provide additional unanticipated benefits for agricultural operations and the surrounding environment. Some notable co-benefits observed include:

– Weed Control: Shade from overhead solar panels has been shown to reduce weed growth by 60-70% compared to open fields, lowering herbicide use and reducing spraying costs. The suppression of weeds also improves crop yields.

– Temperature Regulation: Strategically placed solar panels can act as a barrier against extreme heat, reducing daytime high temperatures by 2-4°C under the panels. This tempers heat stress on crops during heatwaves.

– Pollinator Habitat: The space between panel rows in agrivoltaic fields creates valuable micro-habitat and foraging grounds for honey bees and other pollinators when planted with wildflowers. This aids ecosystem services on farms.

– Erosion Prevention: Solar panels anchored securely to the ground help stabilize soil and prevent loss from heavy rains compared to conventional tilled fields. This safeguards long term soil fertility and agricultural productivity of the land.

– Water Conservation: Curtailed weed growth and transpiration under partial solar shade means agrivoltaic systems can reduce total farm water usage by 15-30% compared to open agriculture. This offers significant savings and sustainability in drought-prone regions.

Taken together, these multifunctional benefits demonstrate how agrivoltaics can boost the ancillary ecosystem services of agricultural lands beyond short term crop yields or energy outputs.

Financial Incentives And The Farm Bill

To drive further mainstream adoption of agrivoltaics across America’s farmlands, targeted financial support and policy incentives have been pivotal. Key catalysts championed at both federal and state levels include:

– Federal tax credits that allow farmers and landowners to monetize 30% of total project costs for agrivoltaic systems through the Energy Investment Tax Credit and Business Energy Investment Tax Credit.

– Inclusion of agrivoltaics as an eligible activity under the Rural Energy for America Program, which offers grants for up to 25% of installation costs and loan financing for the balance.

– Recognition of agrivoltaics as a USDA-approved conservation practice that enables farmers to enroll dual-use fields in revenue protection programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

– Investment from state green banks and public utilities in agrivoltaic projects, providing low-interest loans and power purchase agreements to make projects financially viable.

– In the latest 2018 Farm Bill, agrivoltaics received a further boost through expansion of REAP funding and establishment of a Rural Energy Savings Program to support on-farm renewable technology.

Strategic financial and policy de-risking measures have played a major part in allowing more farmers to adopt agrivoltaics’ upfront capital costs despite high infrastructure expenditures. Coupled with environmental benefits, this is propelling its rapid development across key agricultural regions.

The Future Of United States Agrivoltaics

With persistent advancement in technology efficiency and economies of scale, the levelized cost of agrivoltaic energy is projected to decline significantly by 2030. Falling prices combined with strengthened incentives are anticipated to drive further commercial deployment over the next decade encompassing millions of agricultural acres across America’s heartland.

Key Projections For Agrivoltaics’ Role In The National Transition To Renewable Energy Include:

– State laws requiring 5-10% of new solar projects to integrate agrivoltaics by 2025 as a land optimization strategy. This could see over 10 GW of dual-use capacity installed.

*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it