China Leads in Agrivoltaics Capacity

Why this is here: The United States reached about 10 GW of agrivoltaic capacity by November 2024, representing almost 600 sites and roughly 60,000 acres.

China currently leads global agrivoltaics with 134.55 GW of capacity by the end of 2022. The practice of combining solar power with agriculture—known as agrivoltaics—varies widely, encompassing everything from crops grown under panels to sheep grazing beneath them. While the United States has roughly 10 GW of agrivoltaic capacity as of late 2024, it primarily focuses on grazing and pollinator habitats, a much smaller scale than China’s broader approach.

Europe is also developing agrivoltaics, with over 2.8 GW across ten countries, but faces challenges in standardizing definitions and policies. Japan has extensive experience but cautions against “paper agriculture”—projects lacking genuine farming. Other regions, like ASEAN and Africa, show promise but lack consistent data.

Successful agrivoltaics depends on matching shade to climate and crops, preserving farm access, and ensuring farmer involvement. While some crops thrive under partial shade, commodity crops often require different considerations. Further research and clear policies are needed to ensure agrivoltaics delivers both clean energy and viable agricultural production.