Hilltop Farm's Park Foundation Solar Agrivoltaics Project

The Solar Agrivoltaics Park Foundation Project has been installed at CCE Tioga Hilltop Farm

You may be wondering what is Agrivoltaics. Agrivoltaics is the use of Solar power in agriculture which involves the integration of solar panels and agricultural production in the same land area. This innovative approach combines two important industries to increase land use efficiency and reduce environmental impacts.

Agrivoltaic systems can take different forms, such as shading crops with solar panels, planting crops under solar panels, installing solar panels over water surfaces for aquaculture or allowing animals to graze in the fields under the solar panels. The shading effect of solar panels can improve crop growth and yield as well as providing a good environment for the livestock by:

• Reducing temperatures
• Reducing water evaporation
• Providing shelter from wind
• Increasing humidity

This 25kW system will support our farm incubator program electricity needs. This project gives us the chance to demonstrate some ways in which solar energy and agriculture can co-exist. Sheep can be seen grazing under our solar panels. Solar panels generate electricity that can be used to power irrigation systems, greenhouses, other farm equipment and earn energy credits feeding back into the grid.

You can see from the photos below the process of installing the Solar Panels at CCE Tioga Hilltop Farm.

All items were delivered to the farm and then transferred to the field in which the solar array would be  constructed.

Racking was placed to to hold the panels.

Solar Panels were placed into the racking.

With the Panels all in place, the Incubator Farm is ready to allow sheep to graze while harnessing solar energy.

Last updated March 4, 2026