Agrivoltaics can reduce heat exposure for farmworkers

Talitha H Neesham-Mctiernan, Greg A Barron-Gafford, Patrick Murphy

Heat exposure endangers over 850 million farmworkers, with agricultural labor projected to account for 60% of heat-related working-hour losses by 2030. Agrivoltaic systems, which integrate solar panels with agriculture, may reduce this risk by modifying the thermal environment farmworkers operate within, yet their impact on heat exposure remains unquantified. We evaluate wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) across conventional full-sun agriculture and four agrivoltaic designs differing in panel height, density, and layout. Agrivoltaic systems significantly reduced WBGT, but the magnitude and timing of cooling varied by design. Overhead systems provided shading throughout the day, and consistently reduced daytime WBGT, with greater panel coverage increasing protection. Conversely, interspaced systems reduced morning and evening exposure but intensified midday heat, as restricted airflow and direct solar radiation elevated WBGT, particularly with lower solar panels. These findings demonstrate that strategic agrivoltaic design can improve farmworker thermal safety, whereas poorly configured systems may exacerbate exposure.