Harvest the Sun — Twice
Vines growing among solar arrays. Photo: NCAT
By Brian Naughton, Co-Founder Circle Two, LLC. This article was first published in the NM Healthy Soil blog.
The sun provides abundant energy here in New Mexico, something I’ve appreciated…
Getting Started with Agrisolar – Tutorial
This tutorial will help you step through the initial decisions to start an agrisolar project. The first few slides of this tutorial provide a background on agrisolar. The remaining slides allow you to choose your path into agrisolar.
New Mexico’s Chile Crop Is Hot on Agrivoltaics
New Mexico has tremendous potential in solar energy production thanks to its consistently sunny weather and high levels of solar irradiance. Presently, the state's solar market holds a value of $3.2 billion with significant room for expansion. As stakeholders express increasing interest, they are discovering a trend observed in several other states: some of the most favorable locations for extensive solar developments are within agricultural production fields. The concept of integrating photovoltaic (PV) panels into these fields, known as agrivoltaics, has gathered attention and investment.
Case Study: University of Delaware Agrisolar Research
As we strive for climate change solutions, competition over land for food production or clean energy production is an emerging challenge to address this challenge, demonstrations of systems that produce energy and food on the same land are…
Case Study: Hawai’i Agriculture Research Center
Crops growing under solar panels at the Hawai’i Agriculture Research Center.
By Anna Adair, NCAT Energy Program Assistant
In Mililani, Hawai’i, a one-acre agrivoltaic research and development site run by the…
North Metro TV Features AgriSolar Farm to Table Event
Thanks to NCAT’s AgriSolar Clearinghouse and its partners, people across the country are enjoying local food produced underneath solar panels. The most recent farm to table event, held in partnership with Big River Farms at Connexus Energy,…
Grants Available for Projects Showcasing Agrivoltaics in Colorado
PRESS RELEASE Colorado Department of Agriculture October 3, 2023
Solar Sampler attendees at Jack’s Solar Garden.
To help demonstrate one of the many ways agriculture can contribute to addressing the…
Responses Requested for First-Ever National Solar Grazing Census
Sheep grazing at Brookfield agrisolar site. Photo: AgriSolar Clearinghouse
By Alyssa Andrew and Greg Plotkin
As solar development around the nation continues to accelerate, opportunities for farmers to graze livestock on solar…
Case Study: Colorado State University Rooftop Agrivoltaics
A variety of chile pepper plants grow under solar panels on the roof of Colorado State University Spur campus.
Written for the AgriSolar Clearinghouse by Allison Jackson, Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center
Sitting atop the brand-new…
Chiktopia: Solar Grazing with Automated Chicken Coops
By Allen Puckett, NCAT Technical Writer
August 2023
In Ballground, Georgia, Jeffrey Whitmire and Chris Ayers, owners and operators of Chiktopia, are making use of an innovative solar technology that allows them to automate…
Battlefield Lavender Farm: Solar Powered Processing
By Chris Lent, NCAT Agriculture Specialist
The concept of agrisolar—the use of land for solar electric and agricultural production—is becoming a popular idea. It captivates the imagination to think of the many ways we can use a limited land base to produce...
Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill Solar Grazing in Kentucky
By Allen Puckett, NCAT Technical Writer
In Harrodsburg, Kentucky, a flock of sheep is successfully grazing on a solar array at the E.W. Brown Farm, thanks to a collaboration between Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill and LG&E. This operation…