The Growing Experiment Of Putting Solar Panels On Farmland - Science Friday Recap

Podcast: Science Friday

Published: 2026-02-03

Duration: 23 minutes

Guests: Jana Rose Schleis, Dr. Madhu Khanna

Summary

Farmers are exploring agrivoltaics, where crops are grown under solar panels, to increase sustainability and income. Challenges remain for scaling this on large commodity farms.

What Happened

Agrivoltaics, the practice of combining agriculture with solar energy production, is gaining attention as farmers seek sustainable methods to enhance productivity and income. Journalist Jana Rose Schleis reports that in places like Missouri and Arizona, the shade provided by solar panels can actually benefit certain crops like herbs and produce. This system allows farmers to get dual benefits from the same piece of land: crop harvest and solar energy generation.

Some farmers lease their land to solar developers, receiving rental payments while others install solar arrays to power their homes and barns, akin to rooftop solar installations. This is still a novel practice in the U.S., with sheep grazing proving to be the most successful integration due to sheep's ability to graze under and around panels without damaging them.

Environmental economics expert Dr. Madhu Khanna notes that agrivoltaics could reduce irrigation needs in arid climates and improve crop quality. However, she acknowledges that the technology is in its early stages, with challenges such as the cost of raising panel heights and accommodating traditional farming equipment.

Khanna highlights that the solar panels' shading can be detrimental to commodity crops like corn and wheat. Adjustments in panel design, such as spacing and rotation to track the sun, are critical to minimize negative impacts on these crops.

There is also community opposition to solar panel installations on cropland, driven by aesthetic concerns and the potential impact on local agricultural economies. Khanna suggests that solar developers might mitigate this by sharing financial benefits with local communities.

The economic potential for farmers is significant, as solar energy can be more lucrative and less risky compared to traditional crop farming. However, the integration of agrivoltaics on a large scale requires more research and collaboration between farmers and solar developers.

Khanna envisions a future where agrivoltaics could be optimized for both food and energy production, potentially involving smaller equipment and AI technologies to enhance efficiency. Despite the current challenges, she remains hopeful about the innovation potential in U.S. agriculture.

Key Insights