This toolkit provides background on pollinator-friendly solar and its advantages, and tips, resources, and important considerations to kick-start the integration of pollinator habitat into a solar development portfolio. Learn about the benefits of establishing pollinator-friendly plants under and around ground-mounted solar arrays. By: Michele Boyd, Program Manager, Strategic. . What would you think if vegetables, wheat and small fruit could be grown in a solar project in your township? This scenario could happen in Michigan if we think about agriculture and solar photovoltaic technologies on the same land in novel configurations (Figure 1). Options exist from very low maintenance management of ground cover to more intensive agricultural production. . Agrivoltaics creates ideal microclimates where shade-tolerant crops can thrive with 20-30% less water consumption. But not all. . Many—like chile peppers—can comfortably tolerate a 35% to 50% reduction in photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) compared to open sunlight all day. They seldom suffer a yield reduction due to less sunlight in this range, especially from noon to 4 p.
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