Is Solar Panel Adoption a Win–Win Strategy for Chicken Farms? Evidence from Agriculture Census Data

Tzong-Haw Lee, Yu-You Liou and Hung-Hao Chang ()
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Tzong-Haw Lee: School of Economics & Management, Xiamen University of Technology, Xiamen 361005, China
Yu-You Liou: Department of Agricultural Economics, National Taiwan University, No 1, Roosevelt Rd, Sec 4, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
Hung-Hao Chang: Department of Agricultural Economics, National Taiwan University, No 1, Roosevelt Rd, Sec 4, Taipei 10617, Taiwan

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 20, 1-20

Abstract: Concerns over ground-mounted photovoltaics (PVs) on cropland have encouraged a shift toward rooftop PV systems on livestock and poultry farms. Using ex-post observational data and a doubly robust estimation approach, this study examines the determinants and economic effects of PV adoption among chicken farmers in Taiwan. Based on a population-wide agricultural census, we assess how socio-demographic factors, production practices, household composition, and electricity infrastructure influence adoption decisions. The results show that education level, household structure, and access to electricity are key drivers of adoption. PV adopters exhibit a 5.8% higher sales value of chicken products, mainly due to increased production volume rather than quality improvements. These findings highlight the potential dual benefits of integrating solar energy with poultry farming and provide policy-relevant insights for sustainable agricultural development.

Keywords: photovoltaics (PVs); chicken farms; sales revenue; solar energy; ex-post analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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