“Everybody was just asking for incentives, […] but I’m like, […] you should stop talking about incentives. How about the idea that if you don’t do agrivoltaics, you won’t have the biomass yield you need in the future — period. Because the climate is changing.” — Helge Biernath, CEO of Sunzaun
This powerful call to action served as an opener on a recent episode of The Clean Power Hour, setting the tone for the types of conversations that are reshaping how we think about the future of agriculture.
As the clean energy transition accelerates – largely driven by climate change, energy security, and economic opportunities – stakeholders are increasingly turning to farmland. Not to replace crops, but to use solar infrastructure as a complementary partner to agriculture. In this episode, host Tim Montague is joined by Helge Biernath of Sunzaun and Sunstall, and Ian Skor, CEO of Sandbox Solar, to dive into the growing world of vertical agrivoltaics.
The Roots of Agrivoltaic Innovation
Sandbox Solar, founded over a decade ago, began testing crop performance under solar arrays back in 2018. What they found was that certain crops actually performed better under semi-transparent solar panels compared to traditional full-sun conditions.
“[Too much] sun can be stressful for some plants,” Montague elaborated during the podcast. “We’re learning a lot — and there’s still so much to learn.”
This duality — where crops grow within the sheltered space between solar arrays — may play a critical role in the future of sustainable agriculture. This is especially true for regions that face water scarcity and extreme heat events.
Meanwhile, Sunzaun, which grew out of the solar installation company Sunstall Inc., peered over at European trends. CEO Biernath observed the emergence of vertical racking systems that allowed crops and solar to share the same land with minimal footprint loss. With few domestic options for such systems, Biernath saw an opportunity to bring this innovation stateside.
Most recently, the two companies teamed up to launch an agrivoltaics testing site at Colorado State University. This site was designed to demonstrate real-world applications of agrivoltaics using vertically-aligned modules. With adequate spacing between rows, tractors seed and harvest crops with ease, proving that solar and agriculture don’t have to compete.
Field crops like corn are being evaluated for their growth under panels, while researchers also monitor how the crops, in turn, affect solar output. The project is already collecting valuable data that could help inform and educate the community, as well as pave the way for the expansion of agrivoltaics nationwide.
The agrivoltaics research site at Colorado State University. In 2024, researchers planted corn within rows of bifacial vertical arrays to monitor crop growth, PV energy output, and a variety of other metrics such as soil moisture and temperature. Sunzaun’s flexible racking system enables panels to be raised by several feet if necessary — an adaptive feature to accommodate taller crops or future design needs.
Europe and Asia: A Glimpse Into the Future
Montague emphasized that Northern Europe and parts of Asia are nearly a decade ahead of the U.S. when it comes to agrivoltaic deployment. Why? Biernath believes space constraints have driven these regions to integrate solar directly into the built and agricultural environment.
“In the U.S., we have lots of land,” Biernath states. The issues lie between where that energy is needed and where it is being generated. Bringing solar photovoltaics to agricultural land found near urban hubs could reduce the need to curtail energy, a challenge recently spotlighted in parts of California.
As the population expands, so will the pressure to balance land use among conservation, development, agriculture and energy production. Pairing solar with farming, as already seen in parts of Europe and Asia, is critical for sustaining projected growths.
The Challenge: Awareness and Policy
If agrivoltaics offers so many benefits, why aren’t we seeing it everywhere?
According to the guests, the biggest hurdles might be awareness. Farmers may not be aware of the sheer benefits of incorporating vertical solar on agricultural land. Additionally, policy frameworks may not yet be set up to support dual-use systems, but the movement is growing. Vertical solar offers a low-footprint, high-impact solution that aligns with fostering agricultural productivity, climate mitigation and farmer resilience.
Key Takeaways
- Vertical agrivoltaics allows solar energy and agriculture to share the land, increasing efficiency and resilience.
- European and Asian countries are leading in adoption, offering insights for U.S. researchers, developers and the agricultural community.
- Real-world test sites, like the one at Colorado State University, are proving that tractors, crops, and solar panels can work together.
- Barriers remain, including public awareness and permitting processes — but growing data and interest are breaking new ground.
Want to Learn More?
Join Ian Skor, Helge Biernath, John Langdon, and Dr. Najm on July 15, 2025 for an upcoming webinar and panel discussion titled “Powering Agriculture’s Future with Agrivoltaics”.
This free online event will explore how vertical solar is revolutionizing agricultural land use while generating clean energy. We’ll be joined by leading experts from the field, including representatives from Sunzaun, UC Davis, Sandbox Solar, and Muddy Creek Solar Park.
