Colorado Finds Way to Farm and Generate Solar Power Together

Farmers may no longer have to choose between growing crops and generating solar power on their land.

Researchers at the University of Colorado just solved a puzzle that's been holding back solar farms from working alongside traditional agriculture. Their solution? Space the solar panel rows farther apart so tractors and other farm equipment can still do their job.

The team created a framework that calculates exactly how far apart solar panels need to be for different crops. Potatoes and onions need about 32 feet between rows. Sugar beets require 42 feet. Wheat needs even more room at 62 feet.

Lead researcher Brian Mirletz and his colleagues tested their model on a 160-acre plot in Colorado over a simulated 25-year period. They examined how different crops, panel spacing, and electricity prices would affect both farming profits and energy generation.

The results surprised even the researchers. When farms earned around $200 per acre from crops, it made economic sense to space panels at least 32 feet apart rather than pack them tightly together in a traditional solar farm.

The Ripple Effect

This discovery opens doors for rural communities across America. Farmers can keep their land productive for food while also generating clean energy income. Rural areas gain both job security in agriculture and new opportunities in renewable energy.

The wider spacing does mean fewer solar panels fit on each acre. However, the continued crop revenue makes up the difference and then some. The agricultural income also helps solar projects survive cost increases that might otherwise kill them.

The framework works for various farm sizes, from 80 acres to 640 acres. The team tested it across 64 counties in Colorado and found opportunities in different regions depending on local crop prices and electricity rates.

Equipment size matters more than researchers initially expected. A difference of just five feet in panel spacing can change the required electricity price by 5% or more to break even. This becomes even trickier when farmers rotate different crops each season.

The Colorado team is already expanding their research. They're developing new models that account for different ownership scenarios, like when one person owns the land, another owns the solar panels, and a third does the farming.

They're also studying the upfront costs of these systems more thoroughly. Understanding these expenses will help more farmers and solar companies partner successfully.

The framework gives farmers and energy companies a practical tool to plan projects that benefit both industries. It transforms solar energy from an either-or choice into a both-and opportunity.

Communities gain local food production, clean energy generation, and thriving farms all on the same land.