"Solar Panels Boost Habitats and Farms with Agrivoltaics"

Agrivoltaics, the practice of combining solar panels with agriculture, is gaining traction as a way to rehabilitate disrupted soil into pollinator habitats and increase yields on nearby fields. A recent study by the US Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory in Minnesota found that planting native grasses and flowering plants in solar arrays led to increases in native plant species diversity, flower abundance, and insect pollinators. The study suggests that devoting marginal farmland to agrivoltaic development can help improve yields at nearby prime farmland, making it an attractive option for solar development. Additionally, agrivoltaics is evolving to permit actual farming within solar arrays, offering potential to sustain entire agricultural sectors.