Another study has shown that combining solar panels with agriculture can significantly boost crop yields, while conserving water and generating renewable energy for areas vulnerable to climate change, a new study has shown.
Research led by the University of Sheffield reveals that ‘agrivoltaics’—the practice of using the same land for farming and producing solar electricity—leads to greater crop yields with less water, compared to crops grown in open fields.
The international team, which included the University of Arizona, along with the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), found certain crops, such as maize, Swiss chard and beans, thrived under the partial shade provided by solar panels.
The shade helped to reduce water loss through evaporation, while additionally using the rainwater harvested from the panels to supplement irrigation…
