Agrivoltaics: a conversation between agriculture and energy

Two activities, one area to consider

Agrivoltaics describes the co-location of agricultural production and solar electricity generation. The U.S. Department of Energy describes arrangements with agriculture beneath or between panels and an active field of research. The term introduces a relationship between activities, not a single design that can simply be copied onto any farm.

That is an important distinction for a family property with an agricultural identity. Talking about solar need not begin by treating the land as empty. Equally, valuing agriculture is not enough to establish that an agrivoltaic design would work there.

Start with the agricultural question

For an initial discussion, describe the activity you want to retain or investigate. Which crop, stage of development and tasks would need to be considered? What would people and equipment need to do on the land? Which questions would require observation or specialist study before a layout could be proposed?

These questions should remain open. This article does not establish that La Lombardia’s Hass avocado trees are suitable beneath panels. It makes no claim about shade benefits, water savings, harvests or additional income. Evidence from another crop or location should not be presented as a local result.

A shared assessment, not a label

A useful proposal would explain how agricultural and energy specialists would work together, what they would measure and how they would decide whether the idea deserves further study. It should identify uncertainties rather than use the word “agrivoltaics” as a substitute for an assessment.

La Lombardia currently welcomes an exploratory solar conversation around an approximate six-hectare starting area. No agrivoltaic project is approved or announced here. The possibility of bringing agricultural and energy perspectives together is a subject for inquiry, separate from a commitment to build.

Explore the solar opportunity if your interest is in opening that discussion with the owners.

Definition and research context: U.S. Department of Energy — Agrivoltaics: Solar and Agriculture Co-Location. La Lombardia context: owners. Reviewed 31 October 2026.