To combat climate change, we must 11 million acres to build solar energy in the US And the flat farm is the main place for its placement. But the equipment used to produce solar energy (called that“photovoltaics”) and farming does not have to compete for land. Instead, they can share it. That is the promise of agrivoltaics, the mashup of agriculture and photovoltaics.
One practice in agrivoltaics is to grow crops in the partial shade of solar panels. What’s it like to be on a farm where that’s happening? How do farmers and researchers work with the panels? What does an agrivoltaics-grown tomato taste like? Tag along with me to check out this piece of clean energy future for yourself. I also talked to some farmers and researchers about the lessons they’ve learned to grow food in this unique environment. Read my article on agrivoltaics for more.
