Entries by A. J. Puckett

AgriSolar News Roundup: NYPA Agrisolar Study Results, Cornell Agrisolar Research, New Solar Panels Increase Crop Yield

NYPA Study Provides Best Practices for Agrivoltaic Systems “The New York Power Authority (NYPA) announced the release of a new report, Agrivoltaic Leading Practices, that recommends proven and innovative approaches on integrating dual-land use for agriculture and solar energy production. The study determined that a best practice agrivoltaic site ideally involves stakeholder collaboration, community education, policy […]

AgriSolar News Roundup: Farm to Table Event at Biosphere 2, UAZ Agrisolar Research, German Agrisolar Pilot Project  

Agrisolar Clearinghouse Hosts Farm to Table Event at Biosphere 2   The AgriSolar Clearinghouse held an AgriSolar Farm to Table event  at Biosphere 2 in Tucson, Arizona, last week, in partnership with the GreenBiz23 conference. Similar to the AgriSolar Clearinghouse Follow the Sun field trips, the AgriSolar Farm to Table events bring members of the agrisolar […]

AgriSolar News Roundup: Agrisolar Pilot Project Results, Vertical PV Research, Translucent Solar Panel Research 

Results of Agrisolar Soybean Pilot Project Revealed by PV Developer  “French solar developer TSE, in association with Alliance BFC, has unveiled the initial results of a pilot study in France on how solar panels can affect soybean growth. The teams observed solid vegetative growth of the soybeans, with normal flowering, fertilization, and physiological maturation. The […]

The Science of Solar-Pollinator Habitat: Fact Sheet

This fact sheet includes information on how current and future research can help us understand the role of pollinator-friendly solar in biodiversity conservation. Without a doubt, considerable amounts of land will be needed to meet future solar energy projections.The current rate of solar energy development has already increased the pressure on land resources for energy generation and other land uses (e.g., agriculture, habitat for biodiversity, etc.). Therefore, sustained development of solar energy will depend on proper siting to avoid ecological conflicts and land-sharing solutions that synergize this form of renewable energy development with other land uses.

Agrisolar as Drought Protection  

By Asaf Maman and Avi Elkayam, Trigo Solar  Declining precipitation levels and the associated reduction in arable land can negatively impact rural communities and pose a threat to food security. While utility-scale solar projects reduce greenhouse gas emissions, they can also encroach on arable lands and reduce the yield of rainfed crops. Wheat, barley, soy, […]

AgriSolar News Roundup: Win for America’s Farmers, 5 Signs of Agrisolar Revolution, Agrisolar Pumps in India, Harvesting Light in Agrisolar, Massachusetts Solar Incentives 

Win for America’s Farmers: Harvesting Solar Energy  “America’s solar industry has boomed in recent years, and is slated for a big boost from the Democrats’ recently passed climate bill. Yet solar still only accounts for about 3 percent of electricity flowing into America’s grid—less than one-seventh the share from coal. If we want to phase […]

AgriSolar News Roundup: DOE Agrivoltaics Funding, USDA Climate Awards, Solar Powered Dehydrator

DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office Announces $8 Million in Projects for Agrivoltaics Research  “The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office announced $8 million in new projects that will research agrivoltaics—agricultural production, such as crop production, livestock grazing, and pollinator habitat underneath solar panels and/or in between rows of solar panels.  The Foundational […]

AgriSolar News Roundup: French Farmers Going Agrisolar, Agrisolar Event in Kentucky, EarthTalks Agrisolar Series

Farmers in France are Beginning to Combine Solar Panels and Crops  “In the Haute-Saône region, in the northeastern part of the country, an experiment is being conducted by solar-energy company TSE. It is hoping to find out whether solar energy can be generated without hindering large-scale cereal crops. Previous attempts to experiment with agrivoltaics have […]

New Federal Solar Tax Credit Resources Available 

The U.S. Department of Energy and the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) have developed new resources to help Americans navigate changes in the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) that occurred after the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022. The resources, intended for business owners, homeowners, and manufacturers, provide in-depth overviews of the […]