Picture taken from solarpanelsbrisbane.com
- Introduction
- Backyard Solar Pergolas
- Community Garden Demonstration
- Educational Gardens
- Research is Supporting Small Systems Too
- Great Crops for Small Agrivoltaic Gardens
- Conclusion
Introduction
Imagine a homeowner with a quarter-acre property. Instead of building a conventional patio cover, they install a solar pergola. The roof generates clean electricity while the space beneath becomes a productive garden for lettuce, herbs, strawberries, spinach, or other shade-tolerant crops. They're harvesting vegetables, reducing grocery costs, enjoying a cooler outdoor space, and producing renewable energy, all from the same footprint.
That's agrivoltaics.
It doesn't have to start with utility-scale solar farms. It can begin in an ordinary backyard.
Backyard Solar Pergolas
A growing number of homeowners are discovering that a solar pergola can do much more than provide shade. By using solar panels as the roof structure, the space underneath becomes ideal for growing shade-tolerant vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, kale, and a variety of herbs. At the same time, the pergola generates clean electricity for the home while creating a comfortable outdoor living area.
The partial shade provided by the solar panels helps protect many leafy vegetables from the intense afternoon sun, reducing heat stress and helping the soil retain moisture. While most of these projects are small DIY installations rather than commercial farms, they are excellent examples of how agrivoltaics can work on a residential property. They show that you don't need hundreds of acres to combine food production with solar energy, just a little creativity and the desire to make better use of your available space.
Community Garden Demonstration
One great example comes from Colorado, where an existing half-acre solar installation was transformed into a productive vegetable garden. Rather than leaving the space beneath the solar panels unused, volunteers began growing vegetables while also improving the health of the soil and encouraging greater biodiversity. It's a great reminder that agrivoltaics isn't limited to large commercial farms. Even a relatively small piece of land can produce both clean energy and fresh food at the same time.
Picture taken from alliancebioversityciat.org
Educational Gardens
Projects like the one at Prairiewoods are showing how solar panels and food production can work together. By using the space underneath existing solar arrays, they have been able to grow a variety of crops including tomatoes, beans, carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, herbs, peppers, and even mushrooms.
While these projects are not focused on large-scale commercial farming, their purpose is to educate and demonstrate what is possible. They show that agrivoltaics is not only for large agricultural operations, anyone with a suitable space can explore the idea of growing food while also producing renewable energy.
Research is Supporting Small Systems Too
Researchers at the University of Alberta are also exploring the idea that agrivoltaics is not limited to traditional farms. They believe this approach can be applied in many different settings, including residential backyards, lawns, rooftops, and urban gardens.
The concept is simple: use the same space for two purposes by generating electricity from solar panels while also creating opportunities to grow food. This opens the door for more people, even those with smaller properties, to participate in renewable energy and local food production.
Great Crops for Small Agrivoltaic Gardens
Research is showing that many crops can actually benefit from the partial shade created by solar panels. Vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, kale, broccoli, Swiss chard, peas, herbs, strawberries, and raspberries can all perform well when protected from the most intense sunlight during the hottest parts of the day.
The shade provided by solar panels can help reduce moisture loss from the soil and lower heat stress on plants. Instead of viewing solar panels as taking away valuable growing space, agrivoltaics shows that they can create a better growing environment for certain crops while producing clean energy at the same time.
Conclusion
Agrivoltaics challenges the idea that we have to choose between energy production and growing food. Solar panels are not competing with agriculture, they can actually support it.
Have a garden or piece of property where solar could be part of the solution?
Agrivoltaics may not be the right fit for everyone, but it is worth asking a few questions:
- Do you have an area where you would like to grow food while also producing clean energy?
- Is your garden exposed to too much afternoon heat or drought conditions?
- Could a solar structure provide shade, protection, and power at the same time?
- Are you looking for ways to make better use of the space you already have?
- Would you like to explore whether solar and food production can work together on your property?
Every property is different, and the first step is not installing solar, it is understanding what you are trying to accomplish. Sometimes the best solution starts with a conversation, looking at the land, your goals, and whether this approach actually makes sense for your situation. Is this is something for you then give us a call
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For individuals seeking consultation, education, or assistance in system designs related to grid-tie or off-grid solar applications, IOTG Solar stands ready to help. Our team is available to address questions, provide valuable insights, and offer support at every stage of the solar energy journey. Feel free to reach out to IOTG Solar anytime for expert assistance and comprehensive solutions tailored to your specific needs.
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