Rethinking water scarcity, energy, and agriculture: Coupling agrivoltaics with addressing groundwater depletion
Groundwater overuse will force some irrigated lands in Nevada’s Diamond Valley out of production, raising questions about future land use. This study evaluates whether agrivoltaics—co‑locating solar panels with agriculture—can provide dual benefits: reducing water demand while expanding renewable‑energy generation on already disturbed land. Results show that soils and sunlight in arid regions are well suited for low‑ or no‑irrigation agrivoltaics, aligning with Nevada’s renewable‑energy targets. However, limited transmission capacity constrains large‑scale deployment. Effective solar‑lease structures and further assessment of grid‑upgrade needs are essential to protect landowners and ensure feasibility. Agrivoltaics offers promise, but infrastructure and policy considerations will shape its role in groundwater‑management transitions.
Subject Tags
- Groundwater
- Renewable energy
Abstract
Resolving groundwater overuse is an ongoing challenge that will require irrigation to cease on some land, leading to questions about what to do with land no longer irrigated. At the same time, the world is undergoing a green-energy transition, with new renewable energy infrastructure needed to meet renewable energy targets. Transitioning previously irrigated land to solar energy production with agriculture (i.e., agrivoltaics) can provide simultaneous benefits of reducing water use while increasing renewable energy generation on already disturbed land. We share a study of the viability, benefits and tradeoffs of transitioning previously irrigated land to agrivoltaics in Diamond Valley, Nevada, where a mandated groundwater management plan will inevitably result in land coming out of irrigated production. Nevada is committed to 50% of electricity sold being from renewable energy sources by 2030 and 100% by 2050, so there is strong interest in developing renewable energy infrastructure, including on previously disturbed lands such as those used for agriculture near transmission lines. We found that while soils and sunlight in arid places like Diamond Valley are suitable for incorporating agrivoltaics with little to no irrigation, transmission capacity is a limiting factor. Additional studies are needed to determine system upgrades required for solar, and effective solar leases are important to protect landowners from financial risks.
Citation
Saito, L., Tibbitts, J., Gower, P., Zimmerman, G., & McHugh, D. (2025). Rethinking Water Scarcity, Energy, and Agriculture: Coupling Agrivoltaics With Addressing Groundwater Depletion. JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 61(2), e70021. https://doi.org/10.1111/1752-1688.70021
TNC Authors
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Laurel Saito
Strategy Director Water, Nevada
The Nature Conservancy
Email: laurel.saito@tnc.org -
Peter Gower
Western U.S. and Canada Division Climate and Renewable
The Nature Conservancy
Email: peter.gower@tnc.org -
Grant Zimmerman
Western Water Policy Specialist
The Nature Conservancy
Email: grant.zimmerman@tnc.org -
Devin McHugh
Nevada and Utah Spatial Analyst
The Nature Conservancy
Email: devin.mchugh@tnc.org