SCAPES Featured in EcoWatch

What Is Eco Watch?

Eco Watch is a WTVP program hosted by veteran journalist Mark Welp, featuring engaging environmental stories from across central Illinois and the state. Each episode highlights people and organizations finding innovative ways to make the Land of Lincoln healthier for both people and wildlife—by protecting plants, water, soil, and crops. The program also shares practical tips and tools viewers can use to make a positive environmental impact in their own communities.

Watch the Segment

Video: “Solar Energy and Farming / Emiquon Anniversary / Recycling App / Mahomet Aquifer”
Watch the full episode on PBS:
https://www.pbs.org/video/solar-energy-and-farming-emiquon-anniversary-recycling-app-mahomet-aquifer-blobwz/

Agrivoltaics at the University of Illinois

In this Eco Watch segment, University of Illinois researcher Dr. Carl Bernacchi explains how agrivoltaics can enable farmland to produce both solar energy and crops at the same time. Filmed during the construction of the agrivoltaic research site at the University of Illinois Energy Farm, with additional footage from Solar Farm 2.0 where SCAPES conducts field trials, the story shows how the team is developing and studying systems that combine crop production and solar energy on the same land.

Early research indicates that many crops can perform well beneath or between solar panels, even with reduced light. While tall crops like corn require more expensive, elevated panel structures and show greater sensitivity to shading, other crops—especially soybeans, perennial forage crops, and horticultural crops—demonstrate strong potential within agrivoltaic systems.

Economics and Dual Benefits for Farmers

The SCAPES team is also studying economic tradeoffs. Even if crop yields or energy production are slightly reduced, combining both uses on the same land can still result in higher overall land value for farmers and landowners. Perennial forages and specialty vegetables are emerging as promising options because they are more shade-tolerant and less costly to manage year after year.

Dr. Bernacchi emphasizes that agrivoltaics can help bridge the gap between farmers and renewable-energy developers. By preserving agricultural production while adding a new source of clean energy, agrivoltaics offers a path forward that supports both rural identity and climate goals.