Are Solar Farms Really Displacing Agricultural Land?

We fact check a widespread claim about solar energy and farmland use

Solar power spreading across fields – at the expense of agriculture?

Claims that solar installations are encroaching on valuable farmland and threatening our food security frequently circulate online. Critics argue that climate protection and efficient food production are mutually exclusive. But is that really the case?

In reality, climate change itself poses the greatest challenge to agriculture: extreme weather events and rising temperatures are making farming worldwide increasingly difficult – far more so than any solar array ever could. Yet without renewable energy, there is no winning the fight against the climate crisis.

So, it’s not about whether we should choose solar energy or agriculture, but about how the two can best coexist. In fact, comparisons and fact checks show that many claims about solar farms are misleading – and they obscure other developments that truly endanger the use of agricultural land.

Do solar farms really destroy valuable farmland?

In debates about renewable energy, it is often claimed that installing solar panels on farmland renders it unusable for agriculture – taking away precious space needed for food production. This assertion has long been central to the discussion. But does it hold up?

The facts say otherwise: by the end of 2024, photovoltaic (PV) ground-mounted systems in Germany covered around 45,200 hectares. Of this, just over a quarter (26%) was on so-called conversion land (e.g. former military sites or landfills), a further 34% on arable land, and roughly 16% on grassland and roadside strips.

Looking at the bigger picture, PV systems make up just 0.1% (15,200 hectares) of Germany’s total arable area of 11.7 million hectares.

An aerial view of solar panels arranged in rows, with a nearby tractor working in a farmland.

In relation to the total arable land area, solar farms are therefore the absolute exception – and are often installed on sites with poor soil quality or that are difficult to cultivate in any case.

For comparison: disused land, golf courses or riding pastures take up far more space. Golf courses in Germany alone occupy around 48,000 hectares. The pastures used by members of the German Association of Leisure Riders and Drivers cover roughly 225,000 hectares – several times more than solar farms. None of these areas are used for food production.

What does the future hold?

The German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) 2023 sets a target of 215 gigawatts (GW) of installed photovoltaic capacity by 2030. Compared with the end of 2022, this would roughly triple the capacity. Even if these ambitious government goals are achieved, a maximum of around 95,000 hectares in Germany would be covered by solar farms – still just 0.6% of the country’s arable land.

Agri-PV – a smart combination of solar power and agriculture?

In general, land that is hardly suitable for farming – such as many grassy areas along motorways – should be prioritised for the installation of ground-mounted photovoltaic systems.

However, in some cases, agriculture and solar energy can even complement each other – making dual use of existing land possible. In Agri-PV projects, farmers and winegrowers can continue cultivating their crops beneath raised solar modules, which are mounted high enough to allow sowing and harvesting underneath. Alternatively, the panels can be spaced further apart, leaving room for crops and machinery.

In both cases, crop cultivation remains the main purpose – with solar energy generated as an additional benefit.

A close-up of raspberry plants growing under solar panels, with ripe red berries and lush green leaves.

Livestock farming can also benefit: in the UK and France, for example, sheep and cattle often graze comfortably under the shade of solar panels.

Agri-PV can also help reduce agricultural water consumption, create stable additional income streams for farms, and increase resilience against crop losses. Plus, the panels protect plants from extreme weather such as intense sunlight, heavy rain, and hail.

One of a kind: solar energy and food production

Bottom line: Food production itself suffers from drought and heavy rainfall caused by climate change. From an agricultural perspective, renewable energy therefore makes perfect sense. Projects like Agri-PV demonstrate that smart planning, dual use and clear land priorities make photovoltaics a partner – not an opponent – of agriculture.

Conclusion: Solar energy and farmland – no conflict!

  • Solar power does not threaten food security.
    PV installations account for a minimal share of agricultural land. Golf courses and riding paddocks take up far more space.

  • The greatest threat to nature and farming is climate change.
    Solar energy helps to curb it and preserve habitats in the long term.

  • New approaches combine solar and agriculture.
    In some cases, Agri-PV helps maintain agricultural use and even boosts yields.

  • Expanding renewables does not endanger farmland.
    Even with ambitious expansion plans, less than one percent of arable land would be used for solar energy.

At RWE, we’re continuously finding new ways to bring solar energy and agriculture together –
for instance, through projects such as these:

RWE Solar farms in the Rhenish lignite area

How can recultivated open-cast mining land be put to the best use? With existing energy infrastructure and unlimited feed-in capacity, streamlined planning processes have accelerated projects. The RWE Indeland Solar Park went online just 2.5 years after planning began. The 1.4 km wide facility features 26,500 modules and a 5 MW battery storage system.

RWE Image

Agri-PV demonstration plant

After just five months of construction, RWE’s Agri-PV demonstration plant went into operation in January 2025 on recultivated land near the Garzweiler open-cast mine. Together with Forschungszentrum Jülich and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, the site explores the interplay between energy generation and farming. Crops such as cereals and raspberries are being grown there.

RWE Image

First commercial Agri-PV plant in Italy

In February 2025, RWE began building its first commercial-scale Agri-PV projects in Morcone and Acquafredda, Italy. The installations will supply green electricity to over 13,000 Italian households. Both projects were successful in the latest Italian Recovery and Resilience Plan tender.

A solar panel installation over cultivated land featuring various crops such as wheat and herbs.

Strawberry Solar Farm in Congresbury, UK

There are no strawberries along the old “Strawberry Line” railway – but there is clean energy. The Strawberry Solar Farm will produce electricity for about 18,500 UK households each year and will reduce carbon emissions by over 1.4 million tonnes compared with fossil fuels.

A herd of sheep grazes in a sunny field next to large solar panels under a clear blue sky.

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