Egyptian farmers test solar panels to grow crops in arid lands

Farmers in Egypt are experimenting with agrivoltaics, planting crops under solar panels, to address water shortages and rising temperatures.

Building on ancient irrigation techniques that sustained civilizations, these farmers are partnering with organizations like 3E and Habiba Community to test how solar panels can shade crops, reduce evaporation, and even boost growth. Researchers have found that many plants thrive in the dappled light created by the panels, mirroring conditions found on forest floors.

The pilot projects involve different arrangements of panels, including checkerboard patterns that balance electricity generation with sunlight for crops. Early results suggest watermelons are responding well to the shade, showing increased growth compared to previous seasons. Beyond crop selection, communities are considering how to best implement agrivoltaics, whether individually or collectively, and how to use the generated electricity, currently to power irrigation, but with potential to run desalination plants.

These experiments aim to gather data on plant and panel performance, informing future agrivoltaics deployments. The approach offers a way to simultaneously produce clean energy and food, resolving the conflict between land use for electricity generation and agriculture. Maged El-Said of Habiba Community summarized the potential by asking, “I have the solution that I can have both. Well, why not?”