Combining solar power and agriculture benefits both

Ilja Timonen 12.09.2025 News, Solar articles

Agrivoltaics is making its way to Finland. In agrivoltaics, the same land area is used for both solar power generation and farming. Land use becomes more efficient, and everyone benefits.

Already common in Central Europe, agrivoltaics is a growing trend in Finland. On the same land, solar electricity is produced while crops are grown between the panel rows (solar farming) or livestock graze (solar grazing). Both sides – the energy company and the farmer – benefit from each other. Normally, solar operators need to mow vegetation several times a year to prevent shading and allow maintenance access. With shared use, this task can be handled naturally by farming or grazing.

Sheep grazing at Solarigo’s solar park in Hirvensalmi (C) Solarigo Systems Oy

Multiple revenue streams for farmers

In agrivoltaics, farmers can earn income from several sources at the same time. A major source can be land lease payments from the solar operator if the solar park is built on the farmer’s own land. These rents are competitive compared to general land lease levels. Agrivoltaics can also work in partnership even if the park is built on someone else’s land, in which case the farmer gets access to land without owning or leasing it.

Farmers may also receive service fees from the energy company for vegetation management through grazing or cultivation. And, of course, they benefit from the crops or livestock products themselves. In solar farming, panel rows are spaced wider than usual, leaving about 60–70% of the total area available for cultivation.

As the concept is new in Finland, the eligibility of farming or grazing for subsidies should be clarified in advance.

Solarigo is actively looking for both suitable land areas for solar projects and interested farmers to collaborate in parks under planning or already in operation. Suitable land areas are contiguous, at least 6 hectares, relatively flat or easy to level, and close to a power line or substation.

Another key advantage of agrivoltaics is reduced land use: the same area produces both energy and food, leaving more land available for nature or other purposes. Farming also protects the soil from erosion and supports soil health.

100 sheep grazing all summer in Hirvensalmi

In 2024, Solarigo started a partnership in Hirvensalmi with local farmer Tiina Jokela. Around 100 sheep are responsible for vegetation management on a 5-hectare solar park site. Jokela says the results are promising:

“The sheep have settled in well. The grass is good, and we’ve sown the area with clover for next summer. Normally, sheep don’t have much shade and graze only in the cooler evenings, but the panels provide shade throughout the day,” Jokela explains.

*Sheep enjoying shade under solar panels in Hirvensalmi (C) Solarigo Systems Oy*

Agrivoltaics requires planning and expertise

When designing a solar park with agrivoltaics, several factors must be considered: row spacing for farm machinery, cabling placement, and panel tilt angles to manage shading.

Choosing the right crops also requires knowledge of soil conditions and farming expertise. Research has not yet identified the “best” crops for agrivoltaics, and there is no clear consensus on whether yields are higher or lower compared to conventional farming.

Solar panels create shade, influence wind and moisture, and form a unique microclimate – making crop selection important. In Nordic conditions, cereals, potatoes, root vegetables, and some berries have been found to grow well between the panels.