Agrivoltaics

The Co-Location of Farming and Photovoltaics

Farming isn't getting easier

Modern agriculture is under tremendous pressure. A variety of impacts of are making farming increasingly difficult:

Rising operational costs

Droughts and dwindling water resources

Land-use pressures

Higher temperatures

Soil erosion

Agrivoltaics - Building resilience by integrating solar energy production into farming

As the world’s population grows, the demand for both food and clean energy continues to rise. Meanwhile, land is limited. Agrivoltaics, which combines solar power and agriculture, makes it possible to do both. When thoughtfully designed, these systems help farmers preserve their land, strengthen their operations, and earn a steady income from solar energy (or reduce electrical costs if using energy onsite).

Reduced heat stress for crops and livestock

Windbreak protection up to 150 feet

Maintained or even enhanced production of leafy greens, berries, and forage crops

Reduced irrigation needs from beneficial shading

Reduced dependence on fossil fuels

Diversified income when selling energy to the grid, or reduced operation costs when using the generated power

Sunzaun - A vertical farming solution

Our vertical solar racking system integrates bifacial panels – panels that generate electricity from both sides. Installed upright like a fence, often in the east- to west-facing orientation, their small footprint is conducive to dual-land use. Vertical systems offer several advantages including:

Farmer-friendly: machinery and equipment can operate right up to the fence line thanks to flexible design options

Energy generation aligns better with the demand curve (morning and afternoon peaks)

Acts as functional fencing along property lines and for livestock

Provides shade for crops and workers

Efficient land use: more energy production per square foot of occupied ground space

Minimal cleaning needs (little to no dust and snow buildup)

Ready to see how Sunzaun can support your farm? Get in touch with us today!

Cow-PV

Range-PV integrates photovoltaic systems with grazing areas, maximizing land use efficiency while supporting sustainable rangeland operations. By installing vertical or elevated solar panels, such as the Sunzaun system, farmers can generate renewable energy without significantly reducing pastureland. The partial shading and windbreak effects from the PV rows helps maintain soil moisture, and can even enhance grass growth in certain conditions. Check out research at Rutgers Animal Farm Site for more information.

Crop - PV

Crop-PV combines solar energy production with crop cultivation. By installing vertical PV, farmers can mitigate the impacts of extreme weather conditions through the creation of stable microclimates.

The partial shading provided by the solar panels can enhance plant growth by reducing heat stress and preserving soil moisture, benefiting crops such as leafy greens, berries, and certain grains. Additional crop research is underway at several land-grant universities — and we’re proud to be contributing to the innovation! Check our involvement with Colorado State University (pictured on the right).

In case you were curious, Sunzaun’s racking system enables panels to be raised by several feet if necessary — an adaptive feature to accommodate taller crops or future design needs.