Solar Beekeeping Expands Regionally

“The case for solar beekeeping is really a case for land stewardship paying multiple dividends at once,” says John Kluge. Photo by Allison Wickham

The Appalachian Voice | May 8, 2026

Fields of solar panels are starting to bloom with new life, as energy developers pair solar power with beekeeping in a sweet twist on clean energy. 

By planting pollinator-friendly habitats beneath solar arrays, these sites are becoming productive sanctuaries where honeybees thrive, honey flows, and solar energy generation continues to hum along.

Pairing solar energy with agricultural practices is called agrivoltaics, or apivoltaics when specifically referencing beekeeping. These practices help maximize land use by offering a smart, dual solution to two pressing challenges. It addresses the need for clean energy and the rapid loss of pollinator habitat, while boosting economic opportunities for local beekeepers and landowners.

Solar arrays can be designed with enough space and height to accommodate hives, allowing beekeepers to place them under panels. Planting native, non-invasive vegetation like black-eyed Susans, bee balm and clover under panels supports bees, monarch butterflies and other pollinators. 

The deep-rooted native plants also prevent soil erosion, reduce the need for constant mowing and improve soil health by boosting soil diversity, increasing organic matter and enriching soil structure. Heavy machinery and site grading during solar farm construction can cause soil compaction, and planting vegetation helps break up and aerate the soil.

Richard Fell, professor emeritus of entomology at Virginia Tech, sees potential with solar beekeeping in maintaining the agricultural use of the land. 

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