Alliant Solar Farm at Iowa State University

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Iowa State University (ISU) and Alliant Energy set out to explore how solar energy and agriculture could coexist on the same land. The goal was to create a research-focused solar farm that would allow students to study the effects of solar panel configurations on crop growth and energy production. The challenge was to design a site that could support both solar infrastructure and agricultural activity, while meeting utility-scale performance standards and academic research needs.

Shive-Hattery provided civil and electrical engineering services for the first utility-scale agrivoltaics project in Iowa and the Midwest at-large. Shive-Hattery lead the site’s due diligence efforts in addition to designing the site layout, electrical distribution system, and installation specifications to ensure code compliance and long-term performance. We collaborated with The Waldinger Corporation, Ideal Energy, and ISU researchers to accommodate a diverse system of solar array heights and orientations, enabling side-by-side testing of different agrivoltaics strategies. The design also supported integration with a long-term monitoring system for both energy and crop performance.

The Alliant Solar Farm at ISU is a pioneering agrivoltaics research site that merges clean energy generation with agricultural innovation. It provides hands-on learning opportunities for students in horticulture, agriculture, and engineering, while helping Alliant Energy deliver renewable energy to the community. Shive-Hattery’s thoughtful, collaborative design approach helped create a flexible, high-performing site that supports research, education, and sustainability.