Dual-Use or (Agrivoltaic) Solar Installaons What is Dual-Use? • Dual use is the integraon of agricultural producon with a photovoltaic (PV) s stem. It allows for solar energ producon while maintaining agricultural acvies. • T picall it is considered the installaon of a solar arra that parall obstructs solar penetraon to crop producon (either forage land or crops). • Solar mounted on barns, greenhouses, or &oang on agricultural ponds ma also be considered dual- use operaons. Benefits of Dual-Use • Landowners diversif their incomes streams while connuing to produce agricultural products. • Protects against loss of producve farmland due to permanent solar development. • Provides a mar)eng opportunit to a sustainabilit -minded audience. • Required securit fencing doubles as an e,tra secure enclosure for livestoc). • Shaded soils ma retain more moisture and reduce water consumpon for some species of crops. • Provides relief for wor)ers and animals beneath the arra . Potenal Draw acks • Loss of ta, bene-ts for the conversion of land into solar producon for landowners enrolled in the State.s /armland, 0pen Space, and1or Tree 2rowth Ta, Programs. • Although well established in some countries, e,perimentaon in the Northeast is 5ust beginning. • Potenal for reduced crop ields, and limitaons on mechanical harvesng equipment access beneath the solar arra . Crop producon around a solar arra Source7 2rist 1 Naonal Renewable Energ Lab Updated December2020 Page 1 of 2 Dual-Use or (Agrivoltaics) Solar Installaons Dual-Use Applicaons Greenhouse systems • Applicaons can include rigid or &e,ible or thin--lm solar cell modules seen to the right. (/le,ible solar module technolog sll being developed). • Strategic placement of modules to opmi9e sun in winter and selecve shading1cooling in summer. • Applicaons being studied in Maine. /le,ible module applicaon on a greenhouse in Maine Source7 Arch Solar Cropping systems • 2rowing crops directl beneath, between, and around solar arra s in a -eld. • Clearance beneath the arra will var depending on harvesng techniques (hand vs mechanical harvest). • Spacing between panels ma var depending on locaon and desired shading e;ect. • Ma include the mechanical or manual solar trac)ing and lng of the arra to opmi9e producon. • Northeast crops that are more shade tolerant and show potenal for this applicaon include7 peppers, broccoli and chard. Grazing • Height of arra ma var for di;erent livestoc). • 0;ers protecon from predators. • Applicaons ma include7 sheep, cows, chic)ens, and horses. Sheep gra9ing under a solar arra in Massachuse=s Interested in learning more? Source7 BlueWave Solar • E,plore the American Solar 2ra9ing Associaon.s webpage7 h=ps711solargra9ing.org1 • Visit the US Department of Energ .s website for a /armer.s 2uide to 2oing Solar7 h=ps711www.energ .gov1eere1solar1farmers-guide-going-solar • The Universit of Massachuse=s Amherst.s Clean Energ E,tension is another great source7 h=ps711 ag.umass.edu1clean-energ 1research-new-iniaves1dual-use-solar-agriculture • Chec) out Maine Sustainable Agriculture Societ .s dual-use research7 h=ps711mesas.org1s ra1 • /MI on Solar Installaons please see our factsheet at7 h=p711www.maine.gov1dacf1ard1resources1docs1 solar-installaon-applicaons-factsheet.pdf Updated December 2020 Page 2 of 2 .