Energy growing in the Arava

Agrivoltaics
in the hyper-arid desert

Upcoming event International webinar: agrivoltaics in the extreme desert Wednesday, 14 October 2026 Update Deposit of an agrivoltaic plan approved at Kibbutz Yotvata 5 October 2026

[ About ]

An international ecosystemfor agrivoltaics in the hyper-arid desert

Ardom Desert APV is a regional initiative leading research and implementation of agrivoltaics in hyper-arid desert conditions. The initiative brings together 10 kibbutzim of the Hevel Eilot Regional Council with Ardom Holdings and the Doral Energy group, who joined forces to build a first-of-its-kind international ecosystem that advances desert agriculture combined with energy production.

4,500

dunamsof agro-solar installations for dual use: agriculture and energy

10

kibbutzima regional partnership in Hevel Eilot

3

sites under constructionYotvata, Eilot and an agricultural R&D research facility

[ Ecosystem ]

An agrivoltaic ecosystem in the hyper-arid desert

A complete regional system built around one idea: agriculture and solar energy together, in hyper-arid desert conditions.

Shared responsibility

Connecting the stakeholders: farmers, academia, landowners, entrepreneurs and the regional council.

Education and community

Events, tours and educational activities.

Thousands of dunams of farmland

Growing areas that become a living lab for agrivoltaics.

An advanced research environment

Advanced research infrastructure, a leading research team and extensive collaborations.

Innovation

A space for implementing innovative technology ventures.

Regional partnership

Ten kibbutzim in Hevel Eilot joined in a unique partnership model.

An extreme climate

An arid desert climate.

[ Partners ]

Growing the Arava together

Ardom

An agricultural cooperative of all ten kibbutzim of the Arava and the Hevel Eilot Regional Council.

Doral Energy

The Doral group is a leading developer in renewable energy and agrivoltaics.

YahelLotanNeve HarifNe'ot SmadarKeturaGrofitYotvataSamarElifazEilot

[ Agrivoltaics ]

Agriculture 2.0

Agriculture, technology, energy - on the same plot of land

Agrivoltaics combines solar power generation with agricultural activity on the same land at the same time. In the challenging conditions of the hyper-arid desert, combining the panels with crops creates unique advantages: the panels' shade reduces heat stress on the crops, saves water and extends growing seasons.

An agrivoltaic structure: solar panels on posts above rows of crops, with the sun above
The sunHigh temperatures and high evaporation
The panelsRegulating radiation and reducing evaporation as the panels shade the crops
The farmlandCrops adapted to extreme desert conditions through innovative agriculture

[ Project sites ]

Agrivoltaic sites in the Arava

Yotvata Agricultural R&D Agricultural research facility Low voltage · 25 dunams · 630KW · field crops, orchards, vineyard, net houses Under construction
Kibbutz Yotvata High voltage · 110 dunams · 4MW · carob, seasonal field crops Permit
Kibbutz Eilot 216 dunams · seasonal field crops Permit
Yotvata High voltage · 320 dunams · seasonal field crops and orchards Planned
Eilot 250 dunams · seasonal field crops and orchards Planned
Ketura Extra-high voltage · 1,200 dunams · seasonal field crops, orchards Planned
Lotan and Ne'ot Smadar Extra-high voltage · 1,200 dunams · field crops, orchards Planned
Yahel Extra-high voltage · 1,200 dunams · field crops and orchards Planned
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Imagery © Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics · Sentinel-2 cloudless 2024 by EOX · © OpenStreetMap

Photovoltaic plans and installations in Israel Mapping by the Ministry of Agriculture Ministry of Agriculture · Agricultural Planning and Development Authority

[ Research & innovation ]

Agrivoltaic research in the hyper-arid desert

Breaking new ground in applied research and in solutions suited to an extreme climate.

In partnership with and supported by

Central Arava R&DHevel Eilot Regional Council

Advanced R&D infrastructure

30 dunams of agro-solar research installations, and a technology platform for collecting agricultural data and analysing its effects.

Research talent

13 leading researchers working together with the farmers of the Arava.

A wide range of crops

Field crops and orchards, testing new crops and varieties.

Innovation and collaboration

Collaboration with seanovation to advance innovative technologies, with business and technological support, connections to industry and pilot development in real field conditions.

Knowledge base To the research page
The agrivoltaic research facility in the Arava

[ Events ]

Register for upcoming events

[ Updates ]

5 October 2026 Ardom Agro is hiring an agrivoltaic research assistant A position combining fieldwork in agricultural trials with data processing and analysis, use of AI tools and report writing. 5 October 2026 Research at the agricultural R&D station In August 2026 the second research season began in the onion plot, along with a variety trial of melons grown under agro-solar shading. We will report the first trial results soon. 5 October 2026 Deposit of an agrivoltaic plan approved at Kibbutz Eilot On 16 August, the Southern District Planning and Building Committee approved moving forward with the plan for a 253-dunam agrivoltaic installation within the agricultural land of Kibbutz Eilot. 5 October 2026 Deposit of an agrivoltaic plan approved at Kibbutz Yotvata On 16 August, the Southern District Planning and Building Committee approved moving forward with the plan for a 380-dunam agrivoltaic installation within the agricultural land of Kibbutz Yotvata.
All updates

[ Contact us ]