Ohio research project to explore how solar and farming can co-exist …

Ohio research project to explore how solar and farming can co-exist …

Solar Energy and Sustainable Agriculture: Co-Existing Solutions for Ohio’s Renewable Future

Research underway at the expansive Madison Fields solar farm in Ohio promises to shed light on how effectively agriculture and renewable energy can coexist at a large scale. This groundbreaking project, spanning over 1,900 acres, will serve as one of North America’s largest testing grounds for agrivoltaics — the integration of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems with agricultural production.

As farmers across Ohio seek to diversify their income streams by leasing land for solar arrays, agrivoltaics offers a compelling solution to maximize land use and address concerns over the conversion of prime farmland. The findings from this research initiative will help shape best practices for future solar-agriculture projects, while addressing the ongoing debate over the siting of large-scale solar developments in rural farming communities.

Optimizing Land Usage through Dual-Use Cultivation

Spread across 180 megawatts (MW) of capacity, the Madison Fields project is one of the largest test beds for investigating the synergies between solar energy and agriculture. Developed by Savion, a Shell subsidiary, the project began commercial operation in July 2024 with Amazon as the long-term power purchaser.

Even before the solar farm went live, the site was set up for extensive research by a collaborative team from Ohio State University, Savion’s Between the Rows subsidiary, and other partners. The overarching goal is to explore how diverse crops and livestock can be successfully integrated with large-scale solar installations, addressing the concerns of both farmers and renewable energy developers.

“Finding a balance where you can do a number of things on the same ground — in this case energy production as well as agricultural production — is obviously huge,” says Dale Arnold, director of energy policy for the Ohio Farm Bureau. With Ohio facing the potential loss of over 518,000 acres of farmland to urban sprawl by 2040, according to a report from the American Farmland Trust, the ability to co-locate solar and agriculture could be a game-changer for preserving the state’s rural landscapes.

Crop Compatibility Assessment

One of the key focus areas for the Madison Fields research is determining which crops are best suited for large-scale, utility-grade solar projects in the Midwest region. Unlike the smaller solar farms typically seen in the Eastern and Piedmont states, utility-scale solar installations in Ohio and other Midwestern states can span over 1,000 acres — making the selection of compatible crops a critical challenge.

“You hear a lot about produce and specialty crops,” says Sarah Moser, Savion’s director of farm operations and agrivoltaics. “But raising them is hard to do on 1,000 acres.” Instead, the research team has turned its attention to forage crops like alfalfa and hay, which can be more easily scaled up for large-area applications. Importantly, these crops are also unlikely to grow too tall and interfere with the solar panels.

“We also wanted something that we felt had the potential to be economical,” says Eric Romich, an Ohio State University Extension field specialist for energy development. Earlier small-scale studies at the Pigtail Farms site in Van Wert County had shown promising results for growing hay and alfalfa between solar panel rows, but the research lacked the scale and controls necessary to draw definitive conclusions.

The Madison Fields project, supported by a $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, will now test whether similar success can be achieved at a much larger operational level. Researchers have already planted various test crops this spring, with plans to start collecting data in the coming year. Additionally, the team will explore the performance of other crops, such as soybeans, that can be integrated into crop rotation cycles.

Environmental Impact Considerations

Beyond crop selection, the research at Madison Fields will also investigate the environmental implications of integrating solar and agriculture. One key area of focus is understanding how plants perform in the shaded conditions created by the solar panels, as a portion of the land will inevitably be in the shade.

“Forages are quite temperamental in terms of trying to get them established,” says Braden Campbell, an animal scientist at Ohio State University who is part of the project. The team has observed some soil compaction around the solar panels but remains encouraged by the initial growth of the planted crops.

Complementary grazing is another strategy being explored at the site. After harvesting the forage crops, sheep will be introduced to the land to manage the vegetation growth under and around the solar infrastructure. This integrated approach aims to maximize the productivity of the land, with solar panels generating electricity, forage crops providing a harvestable yield, and the sheep contributing meat, milk, and fiber.

“To me, that’s three commodities that we can get off one unit of land,” says Campbell. However, the researchers acknowledge that there are significant differences between using sheep for vegetation control versus relying on them as a primary source of nutrition. Careful studies will be needed to assess the long-term health and productivity of the grazing animals.

Technological Advancements for Solar-Agriculture Integration

The Madison Fields research also extends to the practical challenges of integrating agricultural machinery and operations with a functioning solar power plant. As the agricultural sector has trended toward wider equipment for improved efficiency, the question arises as to whether these larger machines can navigate the rows of solar panels without compromising the solar infrastructure or the safety of the farm workers.

“But a lot of farmers still have smaller equipment,” notes Moser, as some parcels are not suitable for the wider machinery. The team has found that 15-foot-wide equipment can maneuver fairly well, and even 17-foot and 20-foot widths can still be accommodated, though with greater caution.

The researchers are also exploring the potential for specialized equipment or adjustable panel designs that could facilitate seamless integration of agricultural activities. This could include raising or “feathering” the solar panels when farm vehicles need to pass through, or developing attachments that can fit under the panel rows more easily.

Beyond the equipment challenges, the project will also investigate the necessary infrastructure for post-harvest processing, storage, and transportation of the crops. Provisions for livestock facilities, such as paddock fencing and water sources, will also be considered. Ultimately, the goal is to develop a cohesive blueprint for designing “hay-ready” solar sites that can support thriving agricultural operations.

Economic and Policy Implications

Underpinning the entire research initiative is the recognition that for agrivoltaics to succeed, both farmers and solar developers must be able to achieve satisfactory economic returns. The project team is exploring various business models and contractual arrangements that can maximize the financial viability of these dual-use systems.

“The possibilities are limitless, really,” says Moser, emphasizing the need to work closely with farmers to identify mutually beneficial solutions. As the dataset from Madison Fields grows, the researchers hope to provide policymakers and industry stakeholders with a clearer understanding of the economic feasibility and policy frameworks required to incentivize the widespread adoption of solar-agriculture integration.

“My motto is always, ‘farmers figure it out,'” Moser adds. “And if we work with them, we’ll figure…out how to do this with best practices.” The findings from this groundbreaking research project in Ohio will undoubtedly shape the future of sustainable land use and renewable energy development, not just within the state, but across the broader European and global landscape.

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