Growing Food and Energy Together
UC Merced and partners are advancing agrivoltaics technology that helps California farms produce premium crops while generating clean solar energy.
Target
10+ GW of solar deployment potential
Focus
Small and medium-sized farms
Crops
Strawberries & Grapes
Impact
Reduced water use + increased farm revenue
Target
10+ GW of solar deployment potential
Focus
Small and medium-sized farms
Crops
Strawberries & Grapes
Impact
Reduced water use + increased farm revenue
California Farms at a Breaking Point
The Central Valley produces 40% of America’s fruits, nuts, and table foods using less than 1% of U.S. farmland. But this agricultural miracle is under threat from three converging crises.
Water Scarcity
Groundwater depletion has caused land to sink up to 28 feet. New regulations will force farmers to dramatically reduce water use, potentially leaving hundreds of thousands of acres unplanted.
Extreme Heat
Summer temperatures exceeding 115°F damage heat-sensitive crops like grapes and strawberries. With less than 0.1 inches of rain during the growing season, farms depend entirely on irrigation that’s becoming restricted.
Solar vs. Agriculture
California needs massive solar expansion for clean energy goals, but traditional ground-mounted solar farms consume valuable farmland, forcing communities to choose between food production and renewable energy.
Agrivoltaics in California for Renewable Energy Scale-up
A research initiative proving that farms can produce premium crops and clean energy simultaneously.
How It Works
Smart solar tracking systems adjust throughout the day based on what crops need. During spring growth phases, panels rotate to provide optimal sunlight. When summer heat threatens fruit quality, they shift to maximum shade protection.
Commercial-Ready Solutions
Smart Solar Tracking
Nextracker NX Horizon’s one-axis tracking system optimized for agrivoltaics
Farm-Friendly Elevated Design
Panels installed 5–8 feet above ground, allowing normal movement of workers and equipment
High-Efficiency Bifacial Panels
Capture sunlight from both sides to maintain strong output under crop-protective shading
Integrated Battery Storage
Stores up to 30% of daily energy for evening operations and peak electricity demand.
How Agrivoltaics Benefits Farms and California
Reduced Water Loss
Solar shade lowers evaporation from soil and plants, enabling crop productivity with significantly less irrigation
SGMA-Ready Farming
Lower water demand helps farms operate within California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act limits, reducing the risk of land being left fallow.
Heat Protection for Sensitive Crops
Strawberries and grapes are shielded from extreme heat, helping prevent quality loss during temperatures that can exceed 100–115°F.
Two Revenue Sources on One Field
Farms continue producing high-value crops while generating clean electricity on the same land.
Higher Farm Income Potential
Combined crop protection and energy production can increase total farm revenue by 10% or more.
From Research to Real-World Impact
This work follows a deliberate, farmer-first path — testing what works, validating the economics, and scaling only when the benefits are proven.
Demonstrate and Optimize
Systems are installed at UC Merced and CSU Fresno to collect multiple growing seasons of real farm data. The focus is on measurable outcomes: crop quality, water savings, and electricity value, along with the development of smart shade controls that respond to crop needs and weather conditions.
Prove the Economics
Before expanding, results are evaluated through a clear go-or-no-go review. The project moves forward only if the data shows agrivoltaics delivers a positive bottom line for farmers and a viable path to scale.
Deploy and Scale
With proven results, the system is deployed on a commercial farm and shared with growers across the Central Valley through workshops and industry partnerships. This phase focuses on real-world adoption and preparing the pathway to large-scale implementation.
Talk to the Expert Leading This Work
Sarah Kurtz
Professor, School of Engineering
University of California Merced
Location
5200 Lake Road, Merced, CA 95343
skurtz@ucmerced.edu
Support Agrivoltaics Through the MOVE Initiative
Your contribution helps unlock clean energy, water savings, and climate-resilient farming across California