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Cornell University

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Sustainable Solar at Cornell University

Cornell University recognizes that the accelerated expansion and socially equitable deployment of solar technology is key to the transition from fossil fuels to renewables. As New York state’s land-grant institution, we strive to become a leader in applied solar energy research by prioritizing an engagement-focused effort that capitalizes on existing partnerships between academic researchers, extension educators, community and government organizations, and the industry. As part of the Carbon Neutral Campus initiative, solar energy currently provides more than 20% of the campus’s electricity, and renewable production regularly meets 100% of campus demand on sunny, high-producing days year-round.

Large solar panel
Solar panels above green houses
Focus

Agrivoltaics & Ecosystem Services

Solar-power developers are exploring using lower-quality agricultural land for solar energy, known as agrivoltaics, boosting incentives for combined agriculture and solar options, to achieve green energy goals and increase rural resilience.

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Floating Solar Panels
Focus

Wildlife & Ecosystem Impacts

Developing science-based management recommendations for sustainable and conservation-minded solar energy development in the desert, on farms, and on the water, as well as the services these environments provide.

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Perovskite for more efficient solar panels
Focus

Solar Panel Reuse and Recycling

Researchers are devising more sustainable options for damaged and aging solar panels – employing novel materials, new processes to reclaim them, and reducing the panels’ carbon footprint.

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Solar Grazing Project Interns conduct insect sweeps. Photo by Daniella Garcia-Loos Ameida 2025
News

Summer Interns Spend Sunny Days Under the Solar Arrays

Students Milan Broughton ’24 and Claire Bloodnick MPS ’22 worked this summer on the Cornell Solar Grazing Project among solar arrays, grazing sheep, and livestock guardian dogs.

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Aerial photo of mums planted between solar panels on Remelt farm
News

Combining Solar Panels and Perennials

Cornell's Max Zhang discusses best practices for installing solar projects on mixed-use agricultural land on the Remelt family farm in Henrietta, NY.

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Cornell Researchers 

The following researchers are part of Cornell University's rich network of Solar Energy experts. (Explore Cornell Atkinson's network of faculty researchers)

Max Zhang
Max Zhang
Agrivoltaics, Microclimate, & Solar Farm Design (Cornell Atkinson Faculty Director)
Lindsay Anderson
Lindsay Anderson
Power Systems Integration
Sarah Carson
Sarah Carson
Solar Project Development
Bonnie Collins
Bonnie Collins
CCE: Agriculture
Antonio DiTommaso
Antonio DiTommaso
Agrivoltaics & Field Crops
Maria Goula
Maria Goula
Solar Landscape Designs
Steve Grodsky
Steven Grodsky
Ecology & Wildlife
Tobias Hanrath
Tobias Hanrath
Solar Reuse & Recycling
Meredith Holgerson
Meredith Holgerson
Floatovoltaics & Freshwater Ecology
David Kay
David Kay
Community Development
Niko Kochendoerfer
Niko Kochendoerfer
Solar Grazing
Matt Kozlowski
Matthew Kozlowski
Solar Project Development
Joe Lawrence
Joe Lawrence
Cornell PRO-DAIRY
Johannes Lehmann
Johannes Lehmann
Carbon Sequestration
John Losey
John Losey
Pollinator Habitats
Caroline Marschner
Caroline Marschner
Agrivoltaics & Field Crops
Scott McArt
Scott McArt
Pollinator Habitats
Guillermo Metz
Guillermo Metz
CCE: Energy
Phillip Milner
Phillip Milner
Solar Reuse and Recycling
Andrew Musser
Andrew Musser
Solar Reuse & Recycling
Marvin Pritts
Marvin Pritts
Specialty Crops
Anu Rangarajan
Anu Rangarajan
Agrivoltaics & Speciality Crops
Marian Schmidt
Marian Schmidt
Floatovoltaics & Aquatic Microbology
Todd Schmit
Todd Schmit
Economics
Richard Stedman
Richard Stedman
Community Acceptance
Scott Steinschneider
Scott Steinschneider
Climate Resilience
Harold van Es
Harold van Es
Soil Health & Crops
Kathryn Bills Walsh
Kathryn Bills Walsh
Community Acceptance
Todd Walter
Todd Walter
Hydrology at Solar Sites
Mildred Warner
Mildred Warner
Local Governments
Sophie Westbrook
Sophie Westbrook
Student Represenative
Henry Williams
Henry Williams
Student Represenative
Peter Woodbury
Peter Woodbury
Land Use Modeling
Fengqi You
Fengqi You
Life Cycle Assessment and Circular Economy
Wendong Zhang
Wendong Zhang
Economics

Cornell Atkinson-funded Research

Cornell Atkinson provides a variety of funding opportunities for faculty and student research.

Interested in Engaging With Solar Energy Research at Cornell?

Contact Max Zhang

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