Study shows vertical solar panels and crops thrive together

Aarhus University — Bifacial, vertical solar panels in agricultural fields can generate clean electricity without reducing crop yields, said a new study from researchers at Aarhus University in Denmark.

“Our measurements show that wheat and grass-clover mixtures grow just as well between vertical solar panels as in open fields. At the same time, the panels produce electricity in a daily pattern that better matches energy demand. It’s a win-win,” said Marta Victoria, lead author of the study and associate professor at the Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering, Aarhus University.

Researchers installed two types of bifacial solar panels at the test site: one traditional, south-facing tilted system, and one vertical, east-west-facing system. The vertical panels produce slightly less electricity per year — but with higher value, as generation peaks coincide with morning and late afternoon demand.

At the same time, crops growing among the vertical panels showed no decline in yield.

“Even with some shade, the yield per square metre is almost the same. The crops don’t seem to mind the presence of solar panels and they like the wind protection that they provide,” said Professor Uffe Jørgensen from the Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University.

The panels only occupy about 10 per cent of the field area, which means the combined system requires much less land than separate installations. “If we were to produce the same amount of electricity and food using separate land, we would need 18-26 per cent more area,” said the researchers.

Unlike conventional systems, which can appear flat and industrial, the vertical panels resemble modern hedgerows — blending into the landscape rather than disrupting it.

“Participants liked the vertical panels better — especially up close, when they saw the land was still farmed. They also perceived vertical agrivoltaics as more innovative and environmentally friendly than conventional solar parks,” said Gabriele Torma, assistant professor at the Department of Management, Aarhus University.