Solar Farms Can Grow Clean Energy and Healthier Soil

Imagine a farm that grows food and clean energy at the same time, while actually improving the ground beneath it.

That's the promise of agrivoltaics, where solar panels tower above crops and pastures. Now scientists have figured out exactly what these systems do to soil, and the news is surprisingly hopeful for our food future.

Researcher Budiman Minasny and his team in Indonesia reviewed dozens of studies to understand how solar panels change the ground beneath them. What they found resolves years of confusing research. Soil directly under panels stays drier, while areas between panels and along the edges where rain drips off stay wetter.

These moisture patterns create three distinct zones on each farm. Open areas get normal rainfall, sheltered spots under panels stay protected, and drip lines get concentrated water like a gentle irrigation system.

The changes go deeper than just moisture. Solar panels act like giant umbrellas that cool the soil, reduce evaporation, and create unique conditions for underground life. In hot, dry regions, this shade actually helps crops grow better by reducing plant stress and improving how efficiently they use water.

The team discovered that what happens to soil depends heavily on design choices. Panel height, spacing, and angle all matter. So do the crops farmers choose, how they water, and whether they graze livestock underneath.

The Bright Side

The research reveals a genuine opportunity to improve degraded farmland while generating renewable energy. Planting wildflowers and low-growing plants beneath panels can boost soil carbon and feed beneficial microbes. In arid regions especially, the shade and altered conditions can transform struggling land into productive ground.

Between the panels, soil maintains higher fertility and supports better plant growth. This patchwork of different conditions might sound complicated, but it mirrors nature's own diversity, creating habitats for various soil organisms and plants.

The findings aren't all simple wins. Heavy equipment during installation can compact soil, and some systems show reduced organic carbon directly under panels. Shading changes which microbes thrive underground, affecting how nutrients cycle through the system. In some climates, reduced rainfall leaching can cause salt buildup.

But here's what matters: these systems can be designed right. Careful planning, adapted farming practices, and ongoing monitoring can maximize the benefits while minimizing problems.

Minasny emphasizes that well-designed agrivoltaic systems can improve soil health, particularly on degraded or dry land. The long-term impacts on soil development need more study, but the foundation looks promising.

Farms that generate their own clean energy while growing food represent a practical solution for our changing climate.