Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) recently featured a glimpse into research conducted at UW–Madison’s new Kegonsa Research Campus Agrivoltaic Solar Field in its article Can solar energy and farming share the same land? These Wisconsin researchers think so.
The agrivoltaic solar field was established through a partnership between UW and Alliant Energy and is now on its second summer season. Managed by the Office of Sustainability within Facilities Planning & Management (FP&M), it serves as a living laboratory for research, education, and demonstration. The solar array at the site includes multiple panel configurations and row spacing to support a wide range of research projects while advancing the university’s sustainability goals.
In the WPR radio segment, Josh Arnold, campus energy advisor in the Office of Sustainability, noted the project was intentionally designed to look at how renewable energy infrastructure can be integrated with agricultural land use.
The WPR report also highlights research led by UW faculty and students at the agrivoltaic solar field. These researchers are investigating topics such as soil conditions, water use, wind patterns, and agricultural productivity in conjunction with solar energy production. The site opened in 2025 and is designed to facilitate long-term research on the relationship between renewable energy and agricultural land use.
Thank you to the FP&M employees whose vision, meticulous planning, and hard work have brought this project to life.