Agrivoltaic Project to Incorporate Perennial Grain

American Farmland Trust (AFT) and Sol Systems announced an agrivoltaic initiative aimed at growing Kernza® perennial grain under solar panels at the Eldorado Phase II project in Illinois. The partners aim to advance agrivoltaics by demonstrating the viability of Kernza grown under solar panels and exhibit how American farmland can support both clean energy generation and commercial crop production. Over the four-year course of the project, AFT, Sol Systems, and local partners will plant, manage, and harvest the Kernza crop, as well as collect technical and economic data on grain and forage production. The data will be analyzed to inform future agrivoltaics projects, contributing to the broader understanding of sustainable agriculture and clean energy integration. AFT will manage relationships with farmers, assist with all aspects of grain cultivation, and locate grain processors and potential end-users.
Related NCAT resource: AgriSolar Clearinghouse