South Korea Passes First Law Merging Solar Power and Farms

Farmers in South Korea can now legally harvest sunshine and crops from the same field, thanks to a pioneering new law that creates a sustainable path forward for both agriculture and renewable energy.

The National Assembly approved the country's first agrivoltaics law, establishing a legal framework for installing solar panels above farmland while crops continue growing underneath. It's a creative solution for a nation where over 60% of the land is mountains and only 19% is available for farming.

The new Act on the Promotion and Support of Agrivoltaics extends land-use permits from just 8 years to 23 years, giving farmers and developers the long-term stability they need to invest confidently. That kind of security means farmers can plan for the future without worrying about losing their energy income just as their investment starts paying off.

The law includes smart protections to keep farming in farmers' hands. Only local farmers, resident cooperatives, and agricultural companies can participate. External investors are explicitly blocked from swooping in and exploiting farmland for profit.

Minister Song Mi-ryung visited a demonstration site in Cheongju last fall where healthy cabbage crops were thriving beneath solar panels, showing the concept works in practice. The ministry had already started preparing by extending permit periods and introducing exclusive rights for agricultural companies in 2024.

The Ripple Effect

South Korea joins an elite group of nations taking agrivoltaics seriously. France passed the world's strongest agrivoltaics law in 2023, while Japan has operated a national framework since 2021, though without standalone legislation.

The law doesn't yet apply to Agricultural Promotion Zones, which cover about 47% of South Korea's farmland. Farmers in those areas need their land separately designated as a Renewable Energy Zone to participate.

Energy transition advocates at Solutions for Our Climate say expanding renewable energy zoning will determine how many farmers can benefit. As more zones get designated, more agricultural communities can access both food security and clean energy income.

This dual-use approach represents a fundamental shift in how we think about land. Instead of choosing between feeding people and powering homes, South Korea is proving we can do both on the same acre.