Solar Panel Shade Cuts Fall Crop Growth Nearly Half
New York growers planting food under solar panels may see sharply lower yields in fall, according to a Cornell study.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Organic Food
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Cornell researchers found that solar panel shading reduced light and crop biomass for fall-planted radishes and radicchio at a test site near Albany. Total plant biomass fell by nearly half, with radishes hit hardest, a finding relevant to New York growers considering crops grown between solar panel rows.
Why it matters
As solar farms expand onto farmland, the study points to a real tradeoff for anyone growing food alongside panels: shade can cut yields sharply, especially in the dim, cool Northeast fall. It suggests crop choice, timing and panel spacing will determine whether agrivoltaic farming works in New York.
This was a single-season field study of radish and radicchio planted between solar panel rows during fall 2024 near Albany, published in 2025. Shading cut light reaching the plants by about 25% and reduced total biomass by nearly half, with radishes most affected.
The players
Cornell University
A major research university whose agricultural researchers conducted this agrivoltaic study on crop performance under solar panels.
The details
Panel shading lowered the air temperature around the leaves, which slowed photosynthesis. Radishes responded by diverting energy toward their leaves to capture the limited light, which left less energy stored in the roots that people eat. Radicchio was slightly less affected than radishes under the same conditions.
Timeline
Fall 2024: Radish and radicchio crops were planted between rows of solar panels near Albany.
2025: The Cornell study was published in Environmental Research: Food Systems.
Health Landscape
U.S. dual-use solar-and-farming land has more than doubled since 2020, growing from over 27,000 acres to 62,000 acres. New York alone hosts over 9,000 acres of solar installations, so the crop performance questions raised here matter for the state's food supply as that footprint keeps expanding.
If you buy produce from New York farms, this research is a reminder that growing conditions beneath solar panels can affect yield and nutrient profiles, not just quantity. Shoppers interested in local, farm-grown food may want to ask growers how their crops are sited and timed.
The takeaway
Shade from solar panels can significantly reduce crop growth, so crop choice and timing matter a great deal for agrivoltaic farms. Keep an eye on the follow-up spring and summer trials, which researchers say look more promising.
Further reading
For more on how farming practices shape what ends up on the plate, explore Organic Food coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Economic Times.
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Should solar farms share farmland with crops, even if yields drop?
