Rooftop agrivoltaics is the co-location of solar panels (photovoltaics) and food production on rooftops. Combining green roofs with rooftop solar is still in its infancy, but these systems' synergies are well documented. The plants benefit from the solar panels' protection, and panel performance improves on warm days due to the evaporative cooling that the plants provide. Agrivoltaic systems are currently used in farm fields but taking this concept to a rooftop is still unique.

With an increasingly urban population worldwide, having a hyper-local food source on the only remaining available space in urban areas, rooftops, can improve urban populations' resilience – especially in times of crisis when food distribution chains may be disrupted. Renewable energy generation onsite also contributes to a more sustainable urban community, especially as non-renewable energy sources begin to decline. Educate yourself on the benefits and synergies of green roofs, ask your local government and energy providers how they support rooftop agrivoltaics, and seek out local food sources to help the emerging technology of rooftop agrivoltaics. Jennifer Bousselot is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Colorado State University. She specializes in green roof research on native species, plant drought tolerance, integration with solar panels, and rooftop agrivoltaics.
Jen is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Living Architecture, a longtime member of the Research Committee for Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC), and Board Member of GRHC. Jen co-coordinates the Colorado Regional Center for Excellence in Living Architecture designated by GRHC. She was a technical advisor for the 2017 Green Roof Ordinance and is on the Green Building Ordinance Technical Advisory Committee for the City of Denver.
Jen has co-authored 15 publications since 2010 with most related to green roofs, local foods, and native plants. Jen has co-authored a book called Common Southwestern Native Plants and is contributing to multiple chapters in the upcoming book Ecoregional Green Roofs. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx