UC Davis researchers test agrivoltaics to combine farming and solar energy

Researchers at UC Davis are conducting a proof-of-concept study on agrivoltaics, a method that combines agricultural production with solar energy harvesting on the same land. This approach aims to address the competition for land between expanding solar infrastructure and farming, while helping crops adapt to extreme heat and drought caused by climate change.

The study utilizes different solar panel configurations, including vertical panels, to observe how varying levels of shade affect crop development. Preliminary observations by researcher Gavin Chaboya indicate that while crops closer to the panels may experience smaller leaf and fruit development, they suffer significantly less from sunscald—damage caused by excessive direct sunlight and extreme heat.

Beyond climate adaptation, agrivoltaics offers farmers a potential secondary source of income through energy production.