Illinois team tests the costs, benefits of agrivoltaics across the Midwest

Illinois researchers are evaluating how pairing solar panels with crop production could reshape Midwestern farmland. In a new study, a University of Illinois team analyzed the economic and environmental trade-offs of agrivoltaics across the region. Their findings suggest that, when designed thoughtfully, agrivoltaic systems can generate renewable energy while maintaining agricultural productivity, offering farmers new revenue streams and supporting climate goals.