Large-Scale Solar: Scaling PV for American Agriculture Applications

The Future of Energy and Agriculture 

The demand for large-scale solar projects on US agricultural land has reached new heights. Some areas of the country — such as California’s San Joaquin Valley — can be a model to other regions looking to combine clean energy and agriculture for economic and ecological benefits. In this article, we take a closer look at how agrivoltaics is redefining the future of clean energy on agricultural land.

What are Agrivoltaics?

The U.S. Department of Energy defines agrivoltaics as the co-location of agricultural production, such as crops, livestock, or pollinator habitats, with solar energy systems. Rather than dedicating land solely to farming or solar power, agrivoltaics allows both to occur on the same land simultaneously.

Why Agrivoltaics Make Sense In America

Agrivoltaics encourages dual land use that offers economic resilience, ecological benefits, and energy reliability for surrounding communities.

1. Additional revenue streams and economic benefits for agricultural landowners

Agrivoltaics allows landowners to earn income from leasing land or selling electricity, even in years when crop yields are low due to drought or fallow periods. It offers financial stability without the need for new deployment or further land degradation.

2. Long-term land stewardship and soil protection

• Wind erosion reduction: solar panels, designed to withstand extreme weather, can shield crops and topsoil from damaging winds
• Filtered light: modern bifacial panels allow light to pass through panels, providing partial shade that protects plants and reduces heat stress on animals
• Water conservation: shaded crops experience lower evaporation, with some studies reporting up to 47% reduction in irrigation needs (typical evapotranspiration reductions are closer to 20%)

Opportunities for Large-Scale Solar & Agrivoltaics

A report sponsored by the DOE predicts that agrivoltaics has the potential to increase electricity-generating capacity to the grid by 1 terrawatt by 2035. Nearly 40% of all US energy production could be provided by some form of agrivoltaics by that milestone.

Photo Courtesy of Public Policy Institute of California

Land Use Protections (e.g., Williamson Act and Farmland Security Zones)

Programs like the Williamson Act and Farmland Security Zones help protect California farmland from urban sprawl by offering voluntary property tax incentives. Voluntary property tax incentives are credited with the preservation of more than 16.6 million acres (~1/3 of all private land in the state) of agricultural land from urban sprawl and other uses. Today, many California solar projects seek the approval of the Williamson Act or similar local policies to ensure long-term protection from development.

Cap-and-Trade and GHG Reduction Policies

While not specific to agrivoltaic developments, Cap-and-Trade programs provide funding for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Clean energy and agricultural land conservation initiatives may qualify for these funds.

Across the country, climate change policies are changing the way that electricity generation is expanding. A study from the American Farmland Trust indicated an exponential increase in GHG emissions when farmland is converted to urban land. This underscores the need to preserve agricultural lands as part of climate policies and GHG reduction goals.

Community Solar and Distributed Energy

Community solar programs allow multiple customers—often renters or those without rooftop space—to share the benefits of a single solar installation. These systems are typically located offsite, and participants receive credit on their utility bills for the energy generated.

In California, community solar can be paired with agrivoltaic projects, enabling agricultural communities to generate local, clean energy while preserving farmland. In other states, similar programs fall under distributed energy or microgrid models, offering shared renewable power to local consumers.

These programs provide accessible pathways for households and businesses to support clean energy, often without needing to install their own systems.

The Case for San Joaquin Valley

The San Joaquin Valley is located in California’s Central Valley region. The Valley produces more than half of the California’s agricultural output — putting enormous strain on the region’s land and water resources.

To address the groundwater overuse, the state passed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in 2014, requiring local basins to balance water use by 2040. By some estimates, this may mean retiring at least half a million acres of land in the Valley.  

While drought, pollution, extreme weather, and degraded soil are impacting the Valley, population growth further stresses all of these factors.

Photo courtesy of California State University

Optony’s Role

In 2016, Optony published a white paper highlighting the potential for large-scale solar development in the San Joaquin Valley. By 2022, the Valley produced ~15GWh of solar power which made up an impressive 45% of the state of California’s total solar energy production for the year.

This growth validates the opportunities identified in Optony’s white paper and highlights the region’s capacity to scale up agrivoltaic solutions.

Why Agrivoltaics Make Sense for the San Joaquin Valley

The region’s water and land constraints, paired with economic transitions and population growth, make it a prime candidate for agrivoltaic development. Benefits include:

• New jobs and economic diversification
• Improved environmental outcomes
• Equitable distribution of energy and land-use benefits
• Reduced pressure on water resources
• Increased resilience to extreme weather and energy demand

Growing Pains and Growing Potential

Kern County is already the largest of the eight counties in the Valley. Though growth projections have slowed compared to past predictions, the region’s growth is still on pace to create a host of challenges for energy resource development. The remaining counties are expected to maintain strong growth, driving demand for agricultural resources, clean energy, and land-use solutions.

Agrivoltaics offers a strategic tool for public agencies and landowners. It creates additional income, supports climate goals, and enables sustainable land use in a region already grappling with overlapping environmental and social challenges.

Final Thoughts

In just six years (2016–2022), the San Joaquin Valley became a solar powerhouse. As California continues to expand its population and confront the impacts of climate change, the Valley’s approach to land and energy could become a model for agricultural regions across the country.

Agrivoltaics presents a unique opportunity to align food security, energy production, and climate resilience—without having to choose one over the other.

Optony’s years of experience with clean energy & community planning risk mitigation, feasibility assessments and PV strategy and implementation puts us in a position to help with any agrivoltaic project.

Whether you’re in the beginning phases of exploring large-scale solar or seeking professional assistance in strategic planning — our team of experts can help. Get in touch today.