The “Texas Passage”: How High-Clearance Solar Panels are Revolutionizing Farming

Have you seen pictures of a new kind of solar farm, one where the panels are mounted high up on stilts, creating a wide, open “passage” underneath? Perhaps you’ve heard it called the “Texas Passage” or seen videos of sheep grazing or tractors driving right under the solar arrays.

If you’ve wondered what this is and why it’s being done, you’ve stumbled upon one of the most exciting and innovative trends in renewable energy: Agrivoltaics.

Agrivoltaics (a combination of “agriculture” and “photovoltaics”) is the practice of using the same piece of land for both solar energy generation and farming, simultaneously. It’s a brilliant solution to the growing debate over land use, proving that we don’t have to choose between producing clean energy and producing food—we can do both.

What is Agrivoltaics? The Concept Explained

In a traditional, ground-mount solar farm, panels are installed just a few feet off the ground to minimize cost. This makes the land underneath them unusable for most other purposes.

In an agrivoltaic system, the entire structure is engineered differently. The solar panels are mounted on high-clearance racking, often 10 to 15 feet or more in the air. This creates the “passage” that allows for a wide range of agricultural activities to continue below.

The relationship between the panels and the crops is not just one of co-existence; it’s symbiotic. They actively help each other.

The Benefits: A Win-Win for Energy and Agriculture

This dual-use approach creates a surprising number of benefits for both the solar project and the farm.

1. Increased Crop Yields and Water Savings: For many types of crops, the partial shade provided by the solar panels is a huge advantage, especially in hot, arid climates like Texas.

• Reduced Heat Stress: The shade protects plants from the harshest midday sun, reducing heat stress and preventing scorching.
• Water Conservation: With less direct sun, the soil retains moisture for longer, significantly reducing the need for irrigation—a massive benefit in drought-prone areas. Studies have shown water savings of 30% or more.
• Higher Yields: For shade-tolerant crops like lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, and peppers, the more stable microclimate under the panels can lead to larger and more abundant yields.

2. Happier Livestock and Better Land Management: The high-clearance design is also perfect for grazing animals.

• Shade for Animals: Sheep, which are often used for vegetation management on solar farms, have constant access to shade, reducing heat stress and improving their welfare.
• Improved Forage: The soil moisture retained under the panels can lead to better grass and forage growth for the animals to eat.

3. More Efficient Solar Panels: Solar panels, ironically, lose efficiency when they get too hot. The crops and vegetation underneath the panels help cool them down through a process called evapotranspiration (the same way sweating cools your skin). A cooler panel is a more efficient panel, meaning it produces more electricity.

4. Diversified Revenue for Farmers and Landowners: For a farmer, this model creates a new, stable source of income. They can continue to earn money from their crops or livestock while also leasing their land to the solar developer. This provides a crucial financial buffer against bad harvests or volatile market prices.

What’s Next for Agrivoltaics?

While still a relatively new concept, agrivoltaics is rapidly gaining traction across the globe. Researchers at institutions like the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and universities across Texas, Arizona, and Colorado are actively studying which crops, panel designs, and farming techniques work best together.

We are seeing projects dedicated to growing everything from wine grapes to hay under these high-clearance systems. It represents a fundamental shift in thinking—viewing land not for a single purpose, but as a multi-layered resource.

So, the next time you see one of these towering solar farms with a wide “passage” underneath, you’ll know you’re not just looking at a power plant. You’re looking at the future of sustainable land use, where clean energy and food production grow together.