Solar Power and Farming Work Together Beautifully

Test of solar over crops. Image courtesy of the Fraunhofer Institute.

We have seen a number of studies from the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany that look into combining solar power and agriculture on the same land. They show that some crops, such as hay, can be grown as well under solar panels as in the open. In fact, in one instance, potatoes were more productive under solar panels than they were in the open.

Now we see a study from the University of Arizona that goes further. The crops under the solar panels benefit from the shade in a sunny environment, but they also require less water, which is important in much of the country.