As the footprint of solar facilities expands nationwide, there is a pressing need to understand how individual project sites can exist in conjunction with the agricultural economy. Understanding the benefits in terms of both energy and food security can help alleviate some of the concerns from both the local communities and the farming community at-large that have objected to solar projects in the past. The concept of “agrivoltaics” is rapidly gaining traction across the country in response to the increased demand for solar electric generation powering the energy transition. This session will explore how agrivoltaics allow a given area to harvest the sun not only once, but twice — as fuel for crops and as a source of renewable energy. Topics covered will include: pollinator-friendly solar, solar grazing and the viability of traditional agricultural activities in conjunction with on-site solar and how these ideas are being applied across our portfolio of solar projects.
