Solar panels over 62,000 acres of farmland boost crops and cut water use

American farmers slid solar panels over 62,000 acres of farmland

Agrivoltaics—combining solar panels with farming—is proving that shade can improve crop yields and reduce water consumption. In Arizona, chiltepin peppers produced three times more fruit, jalapeños matched yields with 65% less water, and tomatoes doubled. The practice has expanded from 27,000 acres in 2020 to over 62,000 by 2024, and a recent study suggests it could power AI data centers using less than 1% of farmland in a few states.