Characterizing Land-Use and Vegetation Cover Under Utility-Scale Solar Projects to Understand Food-Energy-Water Impacts

Energy development has the potential to transform landscapes. As global economies transition to greater penetrations of renewable energy sources, solar photovoltaics (PV) are being rapidly deployed. Ground-mounted, utility-scale PV projects are often sited on current or former agricultural land, which has led to concerns over the impacts of energy development on food production and food security. However, utility-scale PV projects can be compatible with agricultural operations and can provide unique food, energy, and water benefits. Utility-scale PV projects can incorporate crop production, livestock grazing, and native and pollinator-friendly vegetation underneath and around solar energy infrastructure. These configurations, referred to as Agrivoltaics, have emerged as innovative approaches to minimize public opposition to solar while providing food, energy, and water benefits.

Agrivoltaic installations can provide food benefits through the production of agricultural crops underneath and around the panels, through livestock grazing, and through vegetation that supports pollinator and other beneficial insect species. Agrivoltaics can provide water benefits through improved stormwater management due to the presence of beneficial vegetation as well as through the reduction of irrigation needs for crops in the partial shade environment. Agrivoltaics can provide energy benefits through increases in PV technology energy production due to cooler panel temperatures that are a result of the vegetation underneath the panels.

Currently there are over 3,000 utility-scale solar installations in the United States. As of yet, there has not been an assessment of the specific groundcover and vegetation underneath these solar installations, which has prevented a comprehensive analysis of the food-energy-water impacts of solar development. In this study, we utilize satellite imagery across multiple seasons and years to characterize the vegetation underneath existing utility-scale solar projects in the United States. We utilize novel approaches to distinguish vegetation cover underneath solar installations compared with surrounding vegetation. The results of this work comprehensive national study enable further insights and research into the food-energy-water impacts of solar development.