Working outdoors during a heat wave has become increasingly common for those in agriculture. As temperatures rise and summer drags on, farmworkers' bodies endure a constant heat load that goes far beyond simple fatigue at the end of the day. In this context, agrivoltaics—solar panels mounted above crops— is emerging as a tool that not only produces electricity but also alleviates this physical strain.
In recent years, several research teams have focused on an aspect that had previously been overlooked: how the shadow cast by solar panels alters the daily experience of those who work the land . Based on environmental measurements , interviews, and direct observation, the results point in the same direction: placing solar panels over crops can significantly reduce heat stress and make agricultural work much more bearable, something especially relevant for Mediterranean regions like Spain or southern Europe.
Agrivoltaics: crops and energy on the same land
Agrivoltaics is based on a simple yet powerful idea: installing elevated photovoltaic systems on agricultural land , leaving enough space for crops to grow and for people and light machinery to move around. In this way, the same plot of land produces both food and renewable electricity without one activity displacing the other.
To achieve this balance, the panels are placed at a sufficient height and with calculated spacing to allow some of the solar radiation needed by the plants to pass through , while filtering out excess light and heat during periods of peak intensity. This design creates areas of partial and variable shade throughout the day, a kind of movable roof that shifts over the rows of crops.
Until recently, most studies on agrivoltaics focused on the effects on agricultural yields and water: reduced evaporation, protection from extreme radiation , or even the retention of some nighttime heat in cold climates. However, new research is beginning to show that the impact goes far beyond plants; in particular, agrivoltaic studies are now exploring the human dimension of the phenomenon.
In agricultural regions with increasingly long and dry summers, such as large areas of Spain, this combination of photovoltaic structures and crops is emerging as a relevant adaptation strategy : it allows for the production of renewable energy, maintaining agricultural productivity and, at the same time, reducing the direct exposure of workers to extreme heat.
A key finding: less direct heat and less heat stress
One of the most cited studies on this topic was presented at the 2025 annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) . The team, led by researcher Talitha Neesham-McTiernan of the University of Arizona, analyzed an agrivoltaic farm in Colorado, Jack's Solar Garden, for four years , where the panels are installed elevated above the farmland.
On this farm, the photovoltaic structures create shifting bands of shade throughout the day . Researchers measured variables such as air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation both under the panels and in unshaded areas. They also calculated heat stress indices such as wet-bulb and globe temperatures, key indicators for assessing the risk of heatstroke. Understanding how solar radiation is measured and what instruments are used is essential for this type of analysis.
The results showed that, at certain times of day and during the peak summer season, heat exposure could be up to 10°C lower than in open fields . In terms of heat stress indices, the agrivoltaic areas registered decreases of up to 5,5°C compared to fields without panels, a difference that, according to the authors, can mark the transition from a situation of extreme risk to one in which work can continue with periodic breaks.
In practice, this reduction in heat stress translates into less accumulated fatigue, less sweating, less dehydration, and less strain on the cardiovascular system . For farmworkers who spend long days harvesting or handling produce under the sun, it means a decreased likelihood of dizziness, heatstroke, and other problems associated with prolonged exposure to high temperatures.
How the shadow reorganizes the workday
Beyond the numbers, the study sought to understand how people actually move around an agrivoltaic field . The research team observed the workers' daily movements and interviewed them to learn about their perception of heat and shade. What they found was a very clear pattern: as the morning progressed and the sun grew stronger, the workers spontaneously reorganized their tasks to take advantage of the shaded areas.
From the early hours of the morning in summer, many farmworkers preferred to work under the solar panels whenever possible, leaving the less protected areas for other times of the day. This wasn't a decision planned by the farm management, but rather a daily strategy for surviving the heat , repeated day after day.
Shade not only reduces direct radiation on the skin; it also lowers the air temperature in the microclimate , decreases light intensity, and alleviates glare. According to testimonials, this translates into less mental exhaustion, improved concentration, and a reduced feeling of being "burned out" as the hours pass.
One detail that the workers themselves highlighted was the possibility of physically leaning on the metal structures to briefly rest their backs, arms, or legs. These short breaks, added up throughout the workday, help reduce muscle fatigue and the psychological stress associated with working long hours in a hostile environment.
Fresher water and more effective breaks
Among the seemingly minor aspects documented by the study, one stands out for its practical importance: the temperature of the water consumed by the farmworkers . When bottles are left in the sun in a conventional field, the water quickly reaches high temperatures, discouraging drinking and failing to lower body temperature.
In the agrivoltaic farm analyzed, the bottles placed under the solar panels remained cool for hours . This difference, which may seem insignificant, is key to maintaining adequate hydration and reducing the risk of dehydration and heatstroke. Drinking lukewarm or hot water in the middle of a heat wave does not provide the same relief or promote the body's recovery as effectively.
The workers also noted that the mere existence of a shaded area where they could go for a short break provided them with clear mental relief. Knowing that a protected area is nearby helps them better plan their breaks, improves their sense of control over the workday, and reduces the feeling of being constantly exposed.
Taken together, these elements—shade, fresh water, and more restorative breaks—create a less stressful work environment for the body. While solar panels are obviously not a health solution, they do alter the physical context in which agricultural work takes place , reducing some of the strain currently placed on farmworkers' bodies.
Data versus feelings: measuring heat in the field
The work of Neesham-McTiernan and her team cross-referenced two types of information: on the one hand, quantitative records of temperature, humidity, wind, and solar radiation ; on the other, detailed accounts from those spending the day in the countryside. The combination of these two sources yielded an interesting message: data and perceptions don't always coincide exactly, but they complement each other.
At certain times of day, the sensors identified specific areas as the hottest, while the workers indicated other areas as more difficult to bear. Far from diminishing the value of the analysis, this showed that heat stress cannot be explained solely by degrees Celsius . Factors such as accumulated fatigue, the type of task performed, the body's orientation relative to the sun, and even the clothing worn influence how heat is perceived.
Therefore, the team insists that any policy or infrastructure design aimed at reducing heat in the fields should consider both instrumental data and people's direct experience . In other words, simply installing sensors is not enough; it's essential to listen to those working in the sun and observe their actual movements within the field.
In terms of occupational health, this combination of objective measurement and human observation can help define more realistic protocols for breaks, hydration and use of shade , something especially urgent in agricultural regions where heat waves are becoming more frequent, such as much of the Mediterranean basin.
Beyond crops: people at the heart of the energy transition
Traditionally, when discussing agrivoltaics or irrigation modernization, the conversation revolves around yield per hectare, water conservation, and energy efficiency . The study presented at the AGU introduces a shift in focus by placing those who sustain the food system through their daily work at the forefront.
According to the authors, agrivoltaic systems should not only be seen as a way to optimize resources , but also as an opportunity to improve working conditions in a sector particularly vulnerable to climate change. Reducing heat stress, facilitating effective breaks, and ensuring adequate hydration become just as important as the number of kilowatt-hours produced or the percentage of water saved.
This opens the door for agrivoltaic installations on crops in European agricultural regions at high risk of extreme heat to be considered as a public health and occupational risk prevention measure . It's not just about producing renewable energy, but about designing agricultural landscapes that allow for sustainable work for the people who live there.
The researcher herself has announced the intention to expand the analysis to other climates and areas of the world , incorporating physiological data—such as heart rate, perspiration, or skin temperature—that will allow for a more precise understanding of the real impact of agrivoltaics on the health of workers.
Potential in Spain and Europe in the face of extreme heat
Although the case study was conducted in the United States, the conclusions are easily applicable to Mediterranean agricultural contexts such as Spain, Italy, Greece, or southern France , where heat waves are becoming increasingly intense and prolonged. In many of these areas, harvesting coincides with the months of highest solar radiation, increasing the risk of heatstroke in the fields.
Implementing agrivoltaic systems on vineyards, orchards, vegetable farms, or irrigated crops could provide a dual benefit: partial crop protection and a direct reduction in the heat load on people . Furthermore, generating electricity on the farm itself would allow for powering irrigation systems, water pumping, or cooling facilities, strengthening the farm's resilience to heat waves and droughts.
In the context of European policies on decarbonization and adaptation to climate change, agrivoltaics aligns with several priorities: promoting renewable energy, maintaining agricultural activity, and improving working conditions . However, experts emphasize that it is not a suitable solution for every crop or situation ; it requires prior analysis of each case, specific structural design, and, above all, the participation of farmers and workers themselves in the planning process.
With summer temperatures breaking records on a recurring basis, the debate about adapting agricultural work to extreme heat is no longer theoretical. Agrivoltaic systems are beginning to be seen as concrete tools for ensuring that the energy transition also serves to protect the health of those who sustain the food system, and not just to change the source of electricity.
The experience gained at farms like Jack's Solar Garden shows that when solar panels are thoughtfully integrated into crops, they not only change energy production figures and agricultural yields , but also transform the way a workday is experienced under the sun. Less direct heat, cooler water, more restorative breaks, and reduced heat stress create a scenario where technological innovation translates into less strained bodies—something especially valuable in a world where extreme heat threatens to become the new norm in agriculture.
