2024 Agrivoltaics

The NREL-authored Solar Futures Study models a future in which solar energy supplies 45% of U.S. electricity in 2050, with other zero-carbon sources providing the rest. The land area necessary to host that solar energy, while smaller than many other land uses, is significant. This calculation of land area does not account for any siting of solar on rooftops, bodies of water, or in agrivoltaics configurations. The vast agriculture land use in the U.S. provides an opportunity for agrivoltaic systems, by deploying solar energy generation with co-benefits to crops and land management. Image NREL.GOV

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The 2024 Energy Impact Fellowship team spent the summer with Fundusol, a company who is working to reduce the burdens facing American farmers through a data-driven approach to agrivoltaics–the co-location of agriculture and solar panels. Fundusol has developed a simulation algorithm that designs optimal agrivoltaic systems, both in terms of electricity and agricultural performance, for any location and any crop profile. Fundusol aims to build agrivoltaics systems for as many farms as possible and provide solar developers with the agrivoltaics design expertise necessary to apply the practice to utility-scale solar projects.

The goal of the fellowship was to look into the regulatory, economic, and community impact of agrivoltaics. As you'll see in the final report, the fellows extensively researched these areas, shedding light on the vast opportunity of this nascent industry. While the regulatory landscape and financial viability for agrovoltaics are still evolving, this report concludes there is significant potential for job creation, local economic development, and equity enhancement in the agrivoltaics space.

To learn more about their project, view both reports below!

Authors of the fellowship report are: Allison Weinstock, Sonnet Xu, Sheryl Chen, Chloe Romero, and William Alexander

Fundusol Energy Impact Project Final Report

View the Report
Authors of the HeroX report are: Allison Weinstock, Sonnet Xu, Sheryl Chen, Chloe Romero, William Alexander, Peter Westbrook, Esteban Herrera-Vendrell, Luca Borletti, and Michael Bendok

Fundusol HeroX Sample Project

Read the Sample Project