Agrivoltaic Solar Farm: How to Integrate Solar Panels and Agricultural Production in the Same Area

Brazil, with the largest solar potential in the world and abundant arable land, has a unique condition to lead global agrivoltaics. A 100 ha farm with panels at a height of 2.5m can produce 50 MW of solar energy while maintaining pasture or horticulture underneath — generating dual income from the same area.

When agrivoltaics are planned with species suitable for partial shade and correct electrical integration, this segment can significantly contribute to job and income generation in Brazil.

Join our strategic actions for the implementation of the best solutions in the Brazilian agricultural sector. Our activities, studies, and advanced research cover 20 chains and 255 segments of the national agro — from the grain chain to sustainable extraction, passing through horticulture, fruit growing, livestock, and much more.

Agrivoltaics — the integration of photovoltaic solar panels with agricultural production on the same land area — is one of the fastest-growing land use concepts globally. The area under the panels has a milder temperature (a reduction of 3 to 8°C), lower evaporation, and protection from heavy rainfall — creating a more favorable microclimate for heat-sensitive crops while generating energy.

The Innovation for Brazil to Produce More series was developed precisely to identify and implement the best available solutions in Brazil and the world, across the 255 segments of the agricultural sector — with accessible technical language, updated data, and a focus on practical results for producers, suppliers, governments, and marketers.

1.  Opportunities for Small Rural Producers

How to structure an agrivoltaic farm with dual income

Efficient agrivoltaics start with the correct sizing of the panels — a minimum height of 2.2 to 2.8m for machinery passage, spacing of 5 to 10m between rows for diffuse light entry, and a bidirectional solar tracking system (bifacial) for maximum generation.

✔    Bifacial panels at a height of 2.5m — tractor passage and diffuse light

✔    Spacing of 5 to 10m between rows — agricultural production in between

✔    Crops suitable for partial shade: dairy cattle, horticulture, passionfruit

✔    Energy contract: free market or PROINFA

✔    BNDES and Finep for agrivoltaic projects

The E-Book 01 — Strategic Manual for Small Rural Producers presents, in detail, the best solutions for this segment and another 254 of Brazilian agribusiness — focusing on method, cost reduction, and progressive growth from Agro 1.0 to Agro 6.0.  Access now for BRL 99.00 →

2.  Opportunities for Micro and Small Local Suppliers

What equipment does agrivoltaics require

Agrivoltaics require raised bifacial panels, inverters, and specialized mounting structures — with a growing demand for integrators.

Solutions by area of engineering applied to the segment

Our activities, studies, and advanced research encompass six major areas of engineering — and the chain demands solutions in all of them:

Electrical Engineering and Computing — bifacial photovoltaic system and inverters;

Electronic Engineering and IoT — monitoring of solar and agricultural production;

Control and Automation Engineering — solar tracking and inverter control;

Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering — elevated metal structures for agrivoltaics;

Renewable Energy Engineering — large-scale photovoltaic project;

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence — shading optimization by crop.

✔    Bifacial panels for agrivoltaics

✔    Elevated mounting structures

✔    Consulting in agrivoltaic projects

✔    Shading modeling by crop

✔    Integration with utility or free market

The E-Book 02 — Strategic Guide for the Micro and Small Local Supplier maps, segment by segment, the business opportunities — focusing on IoT, energy, automation, and specialized technical services.  Access now for BRL 99.00 →

3.  Opportunities for Municipal Governments

How the municipality can support agrivoltaics and create an energy and production hub

Agrivoltaics is the highest impact solution for municipalities with energy deficits and agricultural vocations — generating dual income from land without use conflict.

✔    Agrivoltaic program for rural producers

✔    Municipal IDM: MW of agrivoltaics and ha in simultaneous production

✔    Municipal agrivoltaic hub with integrated energy and production

✔    Partnership with distributors for energy injection

✔    Agrivoltaic Festival — innovation and sustainability

The E-Book 03 — Reference Guide for Municipal Governments provides a step-by-step approach for secretaries and municipal managers to implement effective public policies for the 255 segments of agribusiness.  Access now for BRL 99.00 →

4.  Opportunities for Small Agricultural Product Merchants

How agrivoltaics generates business for integrators and rural producers

A 100 ha agrivoltaic farm with 50 MWp of panels and pasture underneath generates R$ 10 to R$ 20 million per year in electricity + R$ 2 to R$ 5 million in livestock — with the cattle performing better due to the shade and the panels benefiting from evapotranspiration that reduces temperature.

For the solar integrator, agrivoltaics opens the rural market of R$ 50 billion in panels that farms have yet to install — and the proposition of "you make more money than with cattle" is the strongest selling argument in the agricultural solar market.

Products with high commercial potential

The main products derived from this segment for local retail and food service:

Raised bifacial agrivoltaic system— dual income;

Integrated agrivoltaic project— energy + agro;

Agrivoltaic monitoring— dual production management;

Agrivoltaic consulting— high-demand service;

Metal structures for agrivoltaics— high-growth product;

Agrivoltaic carbon credit— complementary income.

Merchant profiles and their specific opportunities

✔    Solar integrators: agrivoltaics as a new rural market

✔    Cattle breeders: shade and energy from the same hectare

✔    Horticulturists: sun protection with extra income generation

✔    Investors: double return on single land

✔    BNDES: financing agrivoltaics

✔    Distributors: rural energy from agrivoltaics

Growth strategies for the local merchant

The solar integrator who develops agrivoltaic proposals for cattle farmers has the most powerful argument in the market: free shade for the herd, free energy for the farm, and income from selling surplus energy — all from the same area they already have.

The BNDES and Finep finance projects. Pronampe covers integrators. BNB/FNE supports in the Northeast.

The E-Book 04 — Strategic Guide for the Small Agricultural Product Merchant maps 30 merchant profiles and details growth opportunities in all 255 segments of agribusiness.  Access now for BRL 99.00 →

Network of Innovation and Technology

By acquiring any e-book from the series, you become a member of our Network of Innovation and Technology. Groups with 30 members will be able to organize and fund in-person strategic planning events to identify and implement the best solutions available in Brazil and the world.

✔    Small Rural Producers

✔    Micro and Small Supplier Companies

✔    Municipal Governments

✔    Small Agricultural Product Merchants

⭐  Special offer: I will provide 100% discount on the value of my working hours for the 10 pioneer events organized by 11/30/26 and held in December 2026. Therefore, the 10 pioneer groups will only cover the general expenses.

Sincerely,

Ivo Alves

CEO · Master in Electrical Engineering and Computing · Specialist in Innovation and Technology Project Management

Instructor: IFPB and UFRN  ·  38 years of experience in Engineering