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solar farms
Trends
- 1Japan Turns Abandoned Golf Courses Into Solar FarmsโผShort on Land, Japan Is Building Solar Farms on Old Golf Courses
Japan, facing a shortage of open land for renewable energy, is converting disused golf courses into large-scale solar farms. As the sport declines in popularity and courses close across the country, developers are repurposing the wide, open sites for photovoltaic installations, helping Japan expand clean power generation without competing for farmland or residential space.
- 2Japan Turns Abandoned Golf Courses Into Solar FarmsโผJapan Is Turning Old Golf Courses Into Giant Solar Farms
Japan is converting disused golf courses into large-scale solar farms, reusing cleared, open land for renewable energy generation. With many courses closing as membership declines, the sites offer ready-made space for panels without competing with farmland. Observers see it as a practical model for other countries with aging leisure facilities and growing clean-energy targets.
- 3
Kenya has begun construction on a project to produce green fertiliser using solar power, according to a report by Renewables Now. The initiative combines renewable energy with agricultural input production, aimed at reducing dependence on imported synthetic fertiliser and cutting emissions from farming. Details on the project's size, location and backers were not provided.
- 4Japan turns abandoned golf courses into solar farmsโผJapan has no space for solar farms apart from old golf courses. https://www. japantimes.co.jp/business/2026 /09/28/compa
Japan is converting defunct golf courses into large-scale solar farms, as the country lacks open land for renewable energy projects. With mountainous terrain, limited flat space and a push to expand renewables, closed golf courses offer rare large, sunny, pre-cleared plots near existing power infrastructure, making them an increasingly attractive option for solar developers.
- 5Japan turns to abandoned golf courses for solar farmsโผJapan has no space for solar farms apart from old golf courses
Japan is converting disused golf courses into large-scale solar farms, as the country has almost no free land left for renewable energy projects. Hundreds of golf courses have closed since the 1990s economic bubble, leaving wide, open, sun-exposed sites that suit panels well. Energy commentators see it as a practical answer to Japan's land scarcity and its push to cut carbon emissions.
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Construction of a solar farm is set to begin in November, according to a BBC report. The announcement marks a step forward in renewable energy development, though details about the project's location, size and operators were not specified in the available coverage. Large-scale solar projects typically draw attention for their impact on local land use and clean energy goals.
- 7Land Scarcity Pushes Solar Power Into Unlikely SpacesโผSpace Squeeze Forces Solar Power Into Tight Corners
Reports highlight how shrinking availability of open land is pushing the solar industry to install panels in tighter, less conventional spaces. As large-scale solar farms compete with agriculture and development for ground, developers are turning to rooftops, car parks, and other constrained sites. Commentators in the energy press say land constraints are becoming a defining challenge for solar expansion worldwide.
- 8Agrivoltaics boost winter wheat yields in Austrian trialโEWS reports 14% higher winter wheat yield at Austrian agrivoltaic site. You can integrate trees into livestock, horticul
EWS reports winter wheat yields 14% higher at its Austrian agrivoltaic site, where solar panels are installed over farmland. The findings are being cited as evidence that renewables and agriculture can work together, with similar integration possible for trees in livestock, horticulture and arable systems through agroforestry, so farming and energy generation need not compete for land.
- 9Ohio solar farm becomes home to 3 million honey beesโผThis Ohio solar farm is now home to 3 million honey bees across more than 50 hives, turning an energy sit
An Ohio solar farm has placed more than 50 beehives on its grounds, hosting roughly 3 million honey bees and turning the energy site into an unlikely pollinator habitat. The project pairs renewable power generation with beekeeping, and coverage highlights it as an example of solar sites being used to support declining bee populations alongside clean energy production.
- 10Texas solar farm pairs sheep grazing with tax revenueโผTexas solar farm combines sheep grazing with millions in local tax revenue
A solar farm in Texas is grazing sheep beneath its panels while generating millions of dollars in local tax revenue, according to Energies Media. The dual-use approach lets land serve both energy production and agriculture, a model known as solar grazing that is drawing attention as large renewable projects expand across the state and rural counties weigh the trade-offs.
- 11RWE switches on 9.5-MW solar farm in HesseโผRWE powers up 9.5-MW solar farm in German state of Hesse
German energy company RWE has commissioned a new 9.5-MW solar farm in the state of Hesse. The project adds to RWE's growing renewables portfolio as Germany continues its push to expand solar capacity and cut reliance on fossil fuels. Energy industry outlets reported the startup, highlighting the utility's ongoing investment in photovoltaic plants across the country.
- 12Farming and solar energy projects show promise in ArkansasโผPromise seen in mixing farming, solar energy production projects
Combining agriculture with solar energy production is drawing interest as a way to use land for both crops, livestock and power generation. In Arkansas, observers see promise in these dual-use projects, though details on specific farms, timelines or scale remain limited in early coverage of the idea.
- 13Researchers work to restore native grasses on solar farmsโผResearch powers up to help native grasses take root on solar farms
University of Alberta researchers are developing methods to help native grasses establish themselves on solar farm sites, pairing renewable energy infrastructure with native plant restoration. The work aims to make solar projects more environmentally beneficial by supporting groundcover beneath and around panels. It highlights growing interest in combining clean energy development with land stewardship.
- 14Creator rebuts anti-solar meme over farmland useโผCreator rebuts anti-solar meme, says US cattle farms drain water, and can share land with panels
A creator is pushing back against an anti-solar meme circulating online, arguing that US cattle farming consumes far more water than solar power and that panels can share grazing land rather than compete with agriculture. The rebuttal has become part of a wider debate over whether renewable energy projects threaten farmland and rural livelihoods.
- 15Cleveland to turn two city landfills into solar sitesโผCleveland to install solar on two city-owned landfills
Cleveland is moving to install solar panels on two landfills it owns, putting unused city land to work generating renewable energy. The plan was reported by Solar Power World and adds Cleveland to a growing list of US cities converting brownfield and landfill sites into solar farms. Landfills are often ideal for such projects because they are large, open and hard to develop otherwise.
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Construction of the Barkham solar farm is set to begin in November, according to BBC reporting. The project marks a step forward for renewable energy development in the area, with work on site expected to get underway next month. Local interest centres on what the build will mean for the surrounding community and the wider push to expand solar power capacity.
- 17
Residents of Clinton County, Michigan are once again debating a proposed solar farm project, reviving a dispute that has previously divided the community. Local news outlet WILX reports on the renewed discussion, though specific details about the project's size, developer, or the current status of approvals were not provided. Opposition to large-scale solar developments typically centers on land use and property concerns, while supporters cite clean energy and revenue benefits.
- 18Q ENERGY Opens 11 MWp Solar Farm in France's MarneโผQ ENERGY Inaugurates 11 MWp Solar Farm in France's Marne Department
Renewable energy developer Q ENERGY has inaugurated an 11 MWp solar farm in the Marne department in northeastern France. The facility adds new photovoltaic capacity to the region's energy mix and marks another step in France's push to expand solar power. Industry outlets reported the opening as part of ongoing solar development activity across the country.
- 19Iowa farmers say USDA backed out of promised solar fundingโIowa farmers say USDA reneged on solar funding, leaving them the bill
Iowa farmers say the US Department of Agriculture has withdrawn solar funding it had promised, leaving them to cover project costs themselves. The claims, reported by the Des Moines Register, have raised concerns among rural producers who invested in renewable energy installations on the understanding they would be reimbursed. It adds to tensions over federal support for clean energy in farm country.
- 20Kent County approves 25-acre solar farm despite oppositionโผKent County Levy Court passes 25-acre solar farm despite some public opposition
Kent County's Levy Court in Delaware has approved plans for a 25-acre solar farm, a decision that went ahead despite objections from some local residents. The project adds to growing renewable energy development in the state. Supporters see it as a step toward cleaner energy, while opponents raised concerns about land use and the farm's impact on the community.
- 21Jefferson County committee approves Watertown solar farmโผJefferson County committee approves Watertown solar farm, despite City of Watertown opposition
A Jefferson County committee has approved a solar farm project in Watertown, Wisconsin, moving it forward despite formal opposition from the City of Watertown. Local officials backing the project cite renewable energy development, while city leaders have objected to the plan. The approval sets up continued tension between the county and the city over the project's fate.
- 22Korean Solar Firm Returns to Cheyenne With 140MW Farm PlanโผMeet Project Wrangler: Korean solar company returns to Cheyenne pitching 140MW farm
A South Korean solar company has returned to Cheyenne, Wyoming, pitching a 140-megawatt solar farm under the name Project Wrangler. The proposal marks a renewed push by the firm to build in the area, and local coverage is drawing attention to what a project of that scale could mean for the city's energy landscape and economy.
- 23Studies map microclimates under solar panels to aid native plantsโผStudies map microclimates beneath solar panels to help native vegetation thrive in the shadow of renewable energy
Researchers are mapping the microclimates that form beneath solar panels, where shade, cooler temperatures and altered rainfall patterns create distinct growing conditions. The work aims to help native vegetation establish itself on solar farms, showing that renewable energy sites can double as habitat restoration projects. Scientists say understanding these shaded zones could guide how future installations are designed and planted, combining clean power generation with ecological benefits on the same land.
- 24Decommissioning to drive 23% of solar buildout in the 2040sโผDecommissioning to drive 23% of solar buildout in the 2040s, says Wood Mackenzie
Wood Mackenzie projects that replacing retired solar capacity will account for 23% of new solar buildout in the 2040s, marking a shift from pure capacity expansion to a market that includes repowering aging installations. The analysis highlights the growing role of decommissioning and site reuse as the first large generation of solar farms reaches the end of its operating life.
- 25Neoen starts construction on 122MW solar portfolio in FranceโผNeoen starts construction on 122MW solar PV portfolio in France, including agriPV and FPV
French renewable energy developer Neoen has begun construction on a 122MW portfolio of solar photovoltaic projects in France. The portfolio includes agrivoltaic installations, which combine farming with solar generation, and floating photovoltaic arrays on water. The projects add to France's growing pipeline of dual-use solar capacity and mark a continued expansion of Neoen's domestic solar business.
- 26
County commissioners have voted to reject a proposed solar energy project, according to a local news report. No details on the project's size, developer, or location were provided in the available coverage. Solar farm proposals have increasingly faced local opposition in recent years over land use, aesthetics, and agricultural concerns, and rejections by local boards are common outcomes.
- 27Lightning Strike Took Gering Solar Farm Offline for 59 DaysโLightning Knocked Gering Solar Farm Offline for 59 Days
A lightning strike knocked the Gering solar farm in Nebraska offline for 59 days before it was restored to service, according to a Rural Radio Network report. The extended outage highlights how vulnerable utility-scale solar installations can be to severe weather, and the incident is drawing attention to repair timelines and resilience planning for renewable energy facilities in the region.
- 28Parish approves permit for 200 MW solar farm in FerridayโParish approves permit application for 200 megawatt solar farm project in Ferriday
Concordia Parish officials have approved a permit application for a proposed 200-megawatt solar farm near Ferriday, Louisiana. The project would be a large-scale renewable energy development for the area, and local coverage highlights the parish's move to greenlight utility-scale solar. Details on the developer, timeline and site have not yet been widely reported.
- 29
Octopus has purchased 43 MW of solar farms in Ireland, expanding its renewable energy portfolio in the country. The deal adds utility-scale solar capacity to its investments as demand for clean power assets grows across Europe.
- 30
In Fort Lauderdale, Florida, vegetation is growing up through an array of solar panels, according to a local news report. The image of plants pushing through the installation has drawn attention as a curious example of nature intersecting with renewable energy infrastructure, prompting discussion about site maintenance and how solar farms coexist with the surrounding environment.