Agrivoltaic Solar Tracker: Farming and Solar Power on the Same Land

BTR Enerji Engineering Team · Published: 28 September 2026 · 7 min read

An agri tracker is a single-axis solar tracker installed above or between the rows of farmland, following the sun from east to west. The aim is not to take land out of farming, but to harvest both crops and electricity from the same hectare. This guide explains how agrivoltaic trackers work, which crops suit them and what matters in the design.

What is agrivoltaics (agri-PV)?

Agrivoltaics is the dual use of land for agricultural production and photovoltaic power generation. The concept was proposed in the early 1980s by Goetzberger and Zastrow of Fraunhofer ISE in Germany and has reached commercial scale over the last decade in Germany, France, Italy, Japan and China. In a conventional ground-mount plant the land under the modules leaves farming; in an agrivoltaic plant the structure is designed around continued farming.

Why a tracker instead of fixed agri-PV?

Fixed structures cast shade on the same strips every day, so part of the crop is always shaded and part always exposed. A single-axis tracker rotates throughout the day, so its shadow moves across the field and light reaches the crop more evenly. A tracker also offers control that fixed systems cannot:

• Light management: during critical growth stages the modules can be angled to let more light through; in hot midday hours they can provide shade that reduces heat and water stress.
• Machinery access: for harvesting, spraying or tillage the modules can be turned to a steep position to widen the clearance between rows.
• Protection position: in strong wind the tracker moves to a safe stow position; depending on the system, a protective position can also be used for sudden events such as hail.
• Higher energy yield: by following the sun, a tracker typically produces 15–25% more electricity than fixed-tilt from the same installed capacity (site dependent).

How it works

Modules are mounted in a single portrait row (1P) on a north-south torque tube. The control unit on each table (TCU) calculates the sun position and rotates the modules, typically within ±55–60°, with a brushless DC motor. A backtracking algorithm prevents rows from shading each other in the morning and evening. In agrivoltaic use, agricultural rules are added to this control layer: target light share at certain hours, a machinery position, a maintenance position.

Which crops do well under an agri tracker?

Suitability depends on climate, variety and design parameters. In hot, dry regions partial shade can become an advantage for many crops; in cool, cloudy regions light priority is more critical.

Land equivalent ratio (LER)

The key metric of agrivoltaic success is the Land Equivalent Ratio (LER):

LER = (crop yield under agri-PV / reference field yield) + (agri-PV electricity / reference PV plant electricity)

An LER above 1 means the land delivers more total output than the two uses would on separate plots. If 80% of the crop yield and 80% of the electricity are retained, LER = 1.6: separate plots would need 60% more land for the same output. At Fraunhofer ISE's Heggelbach pilot site in Germany, an LER of about 1.6 was reported for the first measurement year.

Design parameters

• Height: where farming continues under the modules, the clear height between the lowest module edge and the ground is typically 2.1 m or more; where farming takes place between rows, standard tracker height may be sufficient.
• Row spacing: set by machinery working width and crop light demand; agri trackers usually have wider pitch than conventional plants (typically 8–12 m or more).
• Modules: bifacial modules collect more rear-side light on elevated structures; semi-transparent modules increase light transmission.
• Piles and cables: pile design accounts for tillage depth; cables are routed away from cultivated strips, buried or protected on the structure.

For the design steps in detail, see our agrivoltaic design guide.

Standards and regulation

• Germany – DIN SPEC 91434 (2021): defines agri-PV in two categories: farming under the modules (Category I, clear height ≥ 2.1 m) and farming between rows (Category II). Loss of agricultural area is limited to 10% (Category I) and 15% (Category II), and agricultural yield is expected to reach at least 66% of the reference.
• Italy – MASE Agrivoltaic Guidelines (2022): at least 70% of the total area should remain in agricultural use and the module-covered area ratio should not exceed 40%; "advanced agrivoltaic" systems have minimum heights of 1.3 m for livestock and 2.1 m for crops.
• France: the 2023 renewable energy acceleration law (APER) and its 2024 implementing decree require an agrivoltaic installation to provide a direct service to farming (climate adaptation, protection against hazards, animal welfare or yield improvement).
• Türkiye: PV on agricultural land requires permits under Soil Protection and Land Use Law No. 5403; a dedicated agrivoltaic framework is still developing. Always check current regulation, land class and permitting before starting a project.

Our agri tracker solutions

Our companies adapt their standard single-axis tracker platform (±55° rotation, brushless DC drive, 1P layout) for agrivoltaic use, offering agri tracker structures for orchards, arable land and livestock sites, together with feasibility, energy simulation, engineering and turnkey installation. See the tracker's yield on your site right away with our free solar tracker simulator.

Frequently asked questions

What is an agri tracker?

An agri tracker is a single-axis solar tracker installed above or between the rows of farmland that follows the sun throughout the day. It allows the same land to produce both crops and electricity (agrivoltaics).

Can you farm under an agrivoltaic tracker?

Yes. On elevated systems (clear height typically 2.1 m or more) farming continues under the modules; on standard-height systems it takes place between rows. Row spacing is set by the machinery working width.

Does agrivoltaics reduce crop yield?

It depends on crop and climate. For shade-tolerant uses such as leafy vegetables, orchards, vineyards and pasture the loss can be limited; in hot, dry regions shade can even help by reducing water stress. Full-sun crops need a light-priority design.

What is the land equivalent ratio (LER)?

LER is the sum of the crop and electricity yield ratios of an agrivoltaic site relative to separate reference plots. An LER above 1 means the land delivers more total output than two separate uses.

Why is a tracker better than fixed agri-PV?

A tracker changes its angle during the day, spreading shade more evenly, can leave more light to the crop in critical periods, can turn steep for machinery access and produces more electricity than fixed-tilt from the same capacity.

The ratios on this page are typical industry ranges and are not binding; exact values are determined by a site-specific analysis.