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AgPV 101
Agrivoltaics combines solar energy production with agriculture, creating opportunities to grow crops, graze livestock, restore soil, and support native habitats—all while generating renewable energy.
This transformative practice is more than a concept; it’s a growing movement. With nearly 600 sites across the U.S., researchers, farmers, and communities are proving the potential of dual land use to balance energy and agricultural needs.
Explore resources and content from leading organizations at the forefront of agrivoltaics. Learn how agrivoltaics is transforming farming and energy practices through the lens of top pioneers in the field, with an introduction to the fundamentals of AgPV 101 by leading orgs.
Illustration by Tom Hickey and Al Hicks, NLR
InSPIRE's Pioneering Research
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Laboratory of the Rockies (formerly the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, aka NREL) has been at the forefront of this innovative practice since 2015, proving that solar arrays can coexist with productive farming, grazing, and pollinator habitats. Through its InSPIRE project led by Jordan Macknick, the team has collected data on over 600 agrivoltaic sites and conducted research demonstrating how solar installations can enhance soil health, crop yields, and community resilience.
Explore InSPIRE's research, success stories, and tools to see how agrivoltaics is creating opportunities for farmers and local communities and learn more about:
- Growing crops and pollinator-friendly habitats alongside renewable energy production.
- Grazing beneath solar panels to regenerate land and support livestock.
- Building community through equitable access and workforce development.
The State of Agrivoltaic Deployment and Research in the U.S.
Watch NLR's Jordan Macknick provide an overview of the InSPIRE Project and present the "State of Agrivoltaic Deployment and Research in the U.S." at the 2024 Solar Farm Summit.
After his presentation, stay tuned for the Farmer's Forum, where Jordan moderates a constructive, candid and deeply insightful panel of farmers.
Find Jordan's presentation in Volume 2 of the SFS24 Conference Archives.
American Solar Grazing Association
The American Solar Grazing Association (ASGA) is a nonprofit organization that promotes and supports the practice of using livestock, particularly sheep, to manage vegetation under and around solar arrays. This approach, known as solar grazing, combines renewable energy production with agricultural land use, creating a mutually beneficial relationship between solar developers and farmers.
ASGA Film Series: Stories About Farmers, Sheep, and Solar
Since releasing Pastures and Panels, ASGA has grown its award-winning film series into a collection of short films chronicling the real people and working farms behind the solar grazing movement. Titles include Bringing It All Back Home, Counting Sheep, Texas Solar Shepherds, Fuzz and Buzz, Win Win, and We Are ASGA — each capturing a different facet of how sheep and solar are reshaping rural agriculture across the country.
AgriSolar Clearinghouse
The AgriSolar Clearinghouse is a collaborative initiative supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Office and managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT). It serves as a hub of information, resources, and networking for integrating solar energy production with agricultural practices.
The Clearinghouse connects farmers, researchers, solar developers, and other stakeholders interested in combining solar energy generation with activities like crop cultivation, livestock grazing, and pollinator habitats. It provides case studies, best practices, policy insights, and access to a community of practitioners to advance agrivoltaic systems across the United States.
Best Practices in Agrisolar
The AgriSolar Clearinghouse brings together top experts to share best practices for co-locating solar with crops, grazing, pollinators, and more. This guide covers low-impact design, policy insights, and real-world case studies—essential for farmers, developers, and planners looking to maximize land use.
Harvesting the Sun
In the short film Harvesting the Sun, Stacie Peterson, former Program Director at the AgriSolar Clearinghouse, and other leading voices of the agrivoltaic movement come together to share their stories and shine a light on this once in a lifetime opportunity.
See Stacie's presentation in Volume 2 of the SFS23 Conference Archives.
