Global energy needs are dramatically increasing, and solar farms are one of the fastest-growing and least expensive ways to generate electricity. Solar energy installations can allow agricultural production to continue – creating multi-use landscapes. The dual use of land for solar and agricultural production is called agrivoltaics or agrivoltaic practices. Researchers at ISU are investigating the benefits and feasibility of multiple agrivoltaic practices at solar farms. 

The Alliant Energy Solar Farm at Iowa State

A Public-Private Partnership 

The Alliant Energy Solar Farm at ISU represents a public-private partnership between Alliant Energy and ISU to develop a solar and agricultural research farm on ISU’s campus. In this scenario, ISU acts as the landowner, renting land to the solar production company Alliant Energy. This partnership allows us to work closely with an industry partner to explore agrivoltaic practices and represents a partnership that could be mirrored elsewhere.  

Multi-Disciplinary Research

We have assembled a multi-disciplinary team to address the intersecting needs of various stakeholders, including but not limited to: 

• Photovoltaic (PV) developers and utilities with contracts for PV 
• Landowners 
• Farmers interested in agrivoltaics  

At this site and others, we are exploring a subset of agricultural activities best suited to the unique environment of a utility-scale solar farm. Additionally, we are developing best practices for economically and environmentally sustainable production within solar farms designed for megawatt-scale production.