Is it okay to build photovoltaic panels on farmland

Farmers can benefit from solar energy in several ways—by leasing farmland for solar; installing a solar system on a house, barn, or other building; or through agrivoltaics. Agrivoltaics is defined as agriculture, such as crop production, livestock grazing, and pollinator habitat, located underneath solar panels and/or between rows of solar .

The decision to transfer land use from agricultural production to solar panel electrical production (solar farms) should be made by careful examination of immediate and long-term potential risks and benefits.

Agrivoltaics – the co-location of solar energy installations and agriculture beneath or between rows of photovoltaic panels – has the potential to help ease this land-use conflict. To address climate change, the Biden-Harris Administration set a goal to decarbonize the electricity sector by 2035.

Enter agrivoltaics: an innovative approach that allows solar panels and crops to share the same land, offering a lifeline to farmers while advancing clean energy goals. In New Jersey, where both agriculture and solar energy are essential, this dual-use strategy is more than just a concept—it’s becoming a reality.

As of the end of 2022, less than 2% of solar energy projects are on agricultural land. Research into the long-term impacts of agrivoltaics is ongoing, but the results have been promising enough for the Department of Energy to provide grants to farmers willing to set up solar panels on their working farms.

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6 FAQs about [Is it okay to build photovoltaic panels on farmland ]

Should solar panels be used on farmland?

Still, the benefits of solar panels on farmland could extend far beyond simply providing a supplementary income source; they can, in the best case, actively enhance farm operations and improve agricultural yield.

Should land use be transferred to solar panels?

The decision to transfer agricultural land use to solar panel electrical production (solar farms) should be made by careful examination of immediate and long-term potential risks and benefits.

Are solar panels good for agrivoltaics?

Sheep take cover under the shade of solar panels at an agrivoltaics power generation farm Lianyungang City, China. The benefits aren't just one-sided in this symbiotic relationship. Solar panels directly benefit from their relationship with the plants, too. This is where some real agrivoltaic magic (science) happens.

Will agricultural land be used for solar energy?

Agricultural land in the U.S. has the technical potential to provide 27 terawatts of solar energy capacity. This is a quarter of the total U.S. solar energy capacity of 115 TW. Only 0.3% of farmland is expected to be used for solar energy by 2035. Will using land for solar panels drive up the price of food?

Can solar power a farm?

Whereas oil and gas wells require a minimum of 5-10 acres of land, solar can be deployed to whatever scale a farm owner desires or is able to accommodate (MineralWise, n.d.). This means that solar can be developed on land that is already unused or unirrigated by farmers, minimizing disruptions to existing farm production.

Can a ground-mounted solar panel be installed on a farm?

Depending on the lease terms, ground-mounted solar may or may not be allowed on the site. If it is allowed and current farming operations are suitable for a ground-mounted solar PV array or if unused land exists, ground-mounted solar PV may be an option. How can I reduce soil compaction when installing ground-mounted solar panels?

Is it okay to build photovoltaic panels on farmland