agrivoltaics

 

What is it? Agrivoltaics refers to different methods of combining crops with solar panels, from conventional solar panels positioned on top of crops, to greenhouses made of semi-transparent PV panels.

 
 

A CLIMATE CHANGE TACKLING TOOL

Global sustainability challenges are mounting. Reductions in precipitation and rising air temperatures are creating vulnerabilities in both the agricultural and energy sectors. Water scarcity concerns are driving action in the agricultural sector, while extreme weather events are impacting energy systems worldwide, reducing the reliability of​ traditional energy generation. Agrivoltaics is a promising solution for both energy and food systems that can bolster the triple-bottom line of people, profit and planet.​

 
 

A PROVEN TRACK RECORD

There has been ample research over the last three decades proving out the benefits of agrivoltaics:

  • Farm economic resilience is improved because solar revenues are independent of the volatility of weather and crop markets​

  • Pollinator-friendly grasses and managed grazing of sheep can improve soil quality and substantially reduce chemical inputs relative to conventional farming. ​

  • Well-managed solar grazing satisfies all five soil health principles.

  • Dr. Arjun Makhijani conducted research on the synergies of dual-use solar and found that agrivoltaic systems held ​promising implications for food production, water ​savings, and renewable energy production, as well as potential opportunities to young and minority farmers (Makhijani, 2021). 

 

PIONEERING THE FIELD

CI Renewables has over 15 years of expertise in the agrivoltaic market. Between private pilots we've implemented, like sheep grazing in New Jersey, apiaries at Lawrenceville school, and pollinator habitats at multiple project sites, to federal DOE grant research with Waterkeepers Chesapeake and research pilots with Howard Community College for STEM students and our integrated farming initiatives with Freetown Farm, we are committed to furthering agrivoltaic research and sharing these benefits with our clients.

 
Featured
What People Are Saying

“Agrivoltaics really offers us the opportunity to continue agriculture production while also producing clean electricity. There's so much capability that the lab has and can contribute to this.”

- NREL analyst Jordan Macknick

What People Are Saying

“The lease payment from CI Renewables will allow us to keep the farm in the family for generations.”

- Landowner

What People Are Saying

“It’s like a commodity. We still do cattle, we still do crops. Now we’re going to farm the sun.”

- Landowner

 

GET STARTED TODAY

CI Renewables is the ideal partner to implement agrivoltaics into your farmland. By providing various forms of solar infrastructure (elevated wire racking, vertical panels, single-axis tracker systems, etc.), we see an opportunity to advance solar generation and agriculture, ultimately building a more sustainable food and energy system for the future.​