Report Highlights Promise of Agrivoltaics in Washington State

A report funded by the state of Washington on the feasibility of co-locating solar power generation on agricultural land estimates that agrivoltaics could work on 87,000 acres of agricultural land in Washington state that are within one mile of an electrical substation. The report, Low-hanging Fruit for Washington’s Energy Future? focuses on integrating energy generation and food production on the same land for dual benefit. Researchers saw particular potential for agrivoltaics in orchards and other perennial-crop operations and on dairy farms, where solar panels could provide shade to reduce sunburn problems with fruit and lower irrigation needs.

Related NCAT resource: Best Practices in Agrisolar