2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

The U.S. agricultural industry faces mounting economic challenges as farm incomes fluctuate with market volatility, weather variability, and generational transition. Agrivoltaics (AgPV), the dual use of land for both solar energy generation and agricultural production, presents a promising strategy to enhance farm sustainability while contributing to clean energy goals. By integrating photovoltaic systems above cropland or grazing areas, AgPV offers farmers an opportunity to diversify revenue streams through consistent energy income while maintaining agricultural productivity. This research investigates the potential scale of AgPV land use required to offset fossil fuel derived electricity consumption of an entire state, using California as a case study.

The study combines literature review with energy production modeling using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s System Advisor Model (SAM). A standardized per-acre modeling approach is developed to estimate electricity generation from bifacial solar modules mounted on single-axis tracking systems designed for agricultural co-location. Agricultural production data are analyzed alongside solar energy outputs to assess synergies in land use, crop yield, and energy generation.

Preliminary results show that only a small portion of farmland would be needed to meet a state’s electricity demand using dual use agrivoltaics. This approach can expand clean energy without reducing food production while providing farmers with steady income and improve rural economies. By estimating the land and energy potential of these systems, this research supports agrivoltaics as a practical and sustainable path for meeting both energy and agricultural needs.