By Andi Anderson
This model was previously validated and published in a scientific journal. The team then added an economic model to compare annual profits from agrivoltaics, traditional farming, and stand‑alone solar installations.
To evaluate long‑term outcomes, the researchers ran 15‑year simulations across several Midwest locations. In these agrivoltaic setups, solar arrays covered 33% of each site. The results showed that climate—especially overall humidity or dryness—strongly influenced agricultural performance and economic returns.
The study found significant differences between humid and semi‑arid regions. As first author Mengqi Jia explained, “In the humid eastern Midwest, solar shading reduced photosynthesis, reduced maize yields by 24% and soybean yields by 16%, lowering farmers’ profits. In contrast, in the semi‑arid Midwest, shading alleviated water stress, moderating maize yield losses and increasing soybean yields by 6%.”
These findings highlight the need for region‑specific agrivoltaic planning. Crop sciences professor Bin Peng emphasized this point, stating, “Our integrated modeling framework is a new and powerful tool to investigate the food-energy-economic nexus. We identified ‘win-win’ opportunities where soybean-based agrivoltaics in the semi-arid region produce economic benefits for both farmers and solar developers, highlighting the necessity for region-specific designs tailored to local climate conditions.”
Natural resources and environmental sciences professor Kaiyu Guan added, “Our in-depth research provides a scientific basis to support land-use planning and offer policymakers, land managers and investors practical guidance for expanding agrivoltaics in locally appropriate and environmentally resilient ways.”
Despite the potential benefits, the study noted challenges. Agrivoltaics require taller solar panels, which increases installation costs. As researcher Madhu Khanna explained, “While agrivoltaics can produce benefits for soybean farmers, especially in semi-arid regions, the high installation costs of increasing the height of solar panels limits their economic competitiveness relative to stand-alone solar for developers across most of the Midwest.” She added that incentive programs may be needed to encourage adoption.
The research also found that economic outcomes vary based on crop prices, land‑lease rates, and long‑term weather patterns. The study was supported by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture through a project focused on integrating farming and solar power systems.
Photo Credit: istock-shansekala
Categories: Illinois, Energy