By Andi Anderson
Michigan State University (MSU) is researching a new model called agrivoltaics, which allows crops to grow under or around solar panels. This system could help farmers produce food and clean energy on the same land.
The idea is being tested at MSU’s Research and Extension Center in Hart, where apples are being grown beneath solar panels.
MSU Extension educator Charles Gould explains that this setup could benefit farmers by giving them a second income stream while still keeping the land in agricultural use.
Instead of hiring landscapers to manage vegetation, farmers can plant crops or graze livestock like sheep, which is already being done in some solar fields. This method, known as solar grazing, provides both grazing income and livestock sales.
The trial, supported by the Michigan Tree Fruit Commission, is the first of its kind in the state. MSU researchers aim to understand how Michigan’s unique climate and soils impact agrivoltaics.
They are measuring tree growth, crop yields, soil moisture, and even food safety under the panels.
Dr. George Smith, director of MSU AgBioResearch, says the study was launched in response to farmer questions about using land for both farming and renewable energy.
With limited farmland and rising food demands, this research explores if it's possible to do both without compromise.
Concerns about soil contamination from solar infrastructure are also being addressed. So far, tests show that properly installed panels do not cause chemical runoff. The research is still in early stages, and full results will take years, but MSU hopes this work will guide future agricultural and energy decisions.
This study could help farmers find new ways to make their land more productive and sustainable.
Photo Credit: michigan-state-university-msu
Categories: Michigan, Business, Crops