Agrivoltaic systems for agriculture
A smart combination of active farming and solar generation, side by side
Rotem Energy is leading the agrivoltaic revolution in Israel ‐ a dual-use solution that allows solar generation alongside active farming on the same land. A new passive income next to uninterrupted farming, for greenhouses, cattle sheds, poultry houses, plot A, kibbutzim, moshavim and agricultural land.
- Farming carries on in full ‐ without giving up the crops
- A passive income for 25 years under an agreement with the electric company
- Suitable for greenhouses, cattle sheds, poultry houses, plot A and fields
- Full support: design, licensing, the electric company and infrastructure
- A professional wrap-around service including permits and capacity increases
- Proven experience with kibbutzim, moshavim and private farms
Why is an agrivoltaic system so worthwhile?
Agrivoltaics = passive income + active farming + environmental impact
An agrivoltaic system is a strategic opportunity that helps you as farmers, and helps the kibbutz and the moshav, get more out of every dunam of agricultural land ‐ without giving up any of its traditional roles.
An extra passive income
A fixed payment for the electricity you generate, year after year ‐ a steady income that does not depend on the harvest.
Farming carries on
The crops keep growing beneath the panels ‐ full dual use of the same dunam.
Green energy and independence
Clean solar electricity generated on your own land, with less dependence on the national grid.
Long-term profitability
A system that produces for decades ‐ a clear, stable return on the investment.
Shade and protection for crops
Controlled shading that reduces evaporation, saves water and protects crops from extreme heat.
An investment in the country's future
A national outline plan now regulates agrivoltaics: renewable energy alongside the protection of farmland.
What is agrivoltaics?
Agrivoltaics ‐ farming and solar energy together
Agrivoltaics (agro-solar) is an innovative energy solution that combines active farming with solar generation on the same plot of land. An agrivoltaic system is built at height above the crops, on farm buildings or on agricultural roofs ‐ so the farmer can carry on working the land while generating green electricity and earning an additional income for years.
In Israel, against a background of limited land and a changing climate, agrivoltaics is not only an energy solution ‐ it is a new economic model that lets farmers, kibbutzim and moshavim maximize the return from every dunam of agricultural land.
Why does it suit Israel?
A strategic advantage for Israeli farming
Israel is an agricultural and technological power with a limited land resource and strong sunlight all year round ‐ an ideal combination for agrivoltaics. The reforms led by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure from 2024 onwards opened the door for farmers, kibbutzim and moshavim to build solar systems on agricultural land at attractive tariffs and through faster licensing routes.
- Dual use of the land ‐ crops and electricity from the same dunam
- A stable passive income ‐ 25-year sale agreements with the electric company
- Protection for the crops ‐ partial shading reduces heat stress and evaporation
- A climate contribution ‐ renewable generation without taking farmland out of use
Tailored solutions
Agrivoltaic solutions ‐ for greenhouses, cattle sheds, poultry houses and fields
At Rotem Energy we design and build agrivoltaic systems tailored to every type of agricultural building and area in Israel:
- Agricultural greenhouses ‐ semi-transparent systems or systems on the greenhouse roof
- Cattle sheds and livestock buildings ‐ large roofs that also provide thermal shade for the herd
- Poultry houses ‐ a significant saving on ventilation and cooling costs
- Plot A and agricultural land ‐ raised systems that leave the ground workable
- Storage building roofs ‐ warehouses, silos and service buildings
- Water reservoirs ‐ floating panels that also cut evaporation
The financial advantages
Extra income, savings and cash-flow security
Agrivoltaics is not only about energy ‐ it is an economic turning point for Israeli farming:
- A new passive income ‐ a significant addition without harming the farming
- A long-term agreement with the electric company ‐ 25 years of steady cash flow
- Payback within 5-8 years ‐ and clean profit for generations after that
- Lower costs of your own ‐ irrigation, cooling, milking ‐ tens of thousands of shekels a year
- A more valuable property ‐ land with a solar agreement is a far more productive asset
- Energy storage ‐ the option of adding batteries to optimise returns
A complete service
Design, licensing, infrastructure and grid connection
An agrivoltaic project brings together farming, engineering, regulation and finance. At Rotem Energy we handle all of it under one roof:
- Feasibility survey and financial analysis ‐ assessing the land, the crop type and the expected return
- Engineering design ‐ matched to the type of land, the crops and the regulations
- Licensing and permits ‐ local planning committee, the Israel Land Authority, the Ministry of Agriculture, farm buildings
- The electric company ‐ connection requests, capacity increases, pillars and infrastructure
- Construction and installation ‐ professional build crews with agricultural experience
- Long-term maintenance ‐ monitoring, service and fault handling
Why choose Rotem Energy
The experience, the reliability and the support that make the difference
Rotem Energy is one of Israel’s leading solar energy companies, with hundreds of projects ranging from private homes to large-scale kibbutz projects:
- Proven experience in the agricultural sector ‐ dozens of projects in kibbutzim, moshavim and greenhouses
- A full in-house engineering team ‐ electrical and civil engineers and skilled tradespeople
- Partnerships with leading equipment manufacturers ‐ panels, inverters and mounting structures
- Direct contact with the client ‐ a personal project manager, no red tape
- Financial support ‐ help with financing, grants and state incentives
- Service after installation ‐ ongoing monitoring and a long warranty
Where can an agrivoltaic system be built?
Solutions for every kind of agricultural property
An agrivoltaic system suits almost any agricultural setting ‐ from a small farm building to projects on the scale of a kibbutz.
Plot A
Kibbutzim and moshavim
Agricultural fields
Energy storage
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about agrivoltaics
Everything you wanted to know about agrivoltaics and solar systems for farming
Agrivoltaics is a dual-use solution that allows solar generation alongside active farming on the same land. In an agrivoltaic system the panels are installed at height above the crops or on farm buildings, so the ground stays available for farming ‐ unlike an ordinary solar system, which covers the area completely.
Yes. That is one of the central advantages of agrivoltaics. The panels are installed at a height that allows mechanical cultivation, movement of farm equipment, livestock passage and a wide range of crops ‐ from vegetables and field crops to orchards and grazing. The partial shade from the panels even helps heat-sensitive crops and reduces water evaporation.
Yes. Agrivoltaics requires a set of permits including the local planning and building committee, approval from the Israel Land Authority (where the land is managed by it), approval from the Ministry of Agriculture (particularly for farm buildings) and sometimes approval from the committee for agricultural farm buildings. At Rotem Energy we handle the entire licensing process from start to finish.
Yes. Since 2024, following the Ministry of Energy reforms, a solar system of up to one dunam can be built in plot A of an agricultural farmstead, provided the farmstead is regularized and the licensing conditions are met. This is a significant opportunity for farmers in the moshavim to earn an additional income from land they already hold.
Absolutely. We provide a complete service that includes applying for a new connection, increasing an existing connection, installing pillars and electrical infrastructure, commissioning tests and commercial approval for connecting the system to the grid. All of it under one roof ‐ you do not have to deal with the bureaucracy.
Agrivoltaics suits private farmers who hold plot A, kibbutzim and moshavim with agricultural land, owners of greenhouses and covered crops, dairy farmers, cattle and poultry growers, horse farms, owners of orchards and field crops, and anyone with agricultural water reservoirs or the roofs of farm buildings.
Payback typically takes between five and eight years, depending on the size of the system, the type of building and the tariff received from the electric company. After that the system produces clean profit for the rest of the agreement ‐ usually another 17 to 20 years of passive cash flow.
Yes, and sometimes it is very worthwhile. Storage lets you shift generation to peak hours (when the tariff is higher), run farm equipment on green energy at night, and have backup in the event of power cuts.