Green energy is only getting greener. In the latest development, the largest agrivoltaic research project in the US is taking shape in Colorado in and around a variety of solar panels, which means they are not going to plant a bed of gravel under the solar panels. They are going to plant plants for humans, animals, birds and insects to eat. This is just a foretaste of the community benefits that are expected to flow from the so-called Jack’s Solar Garden in Boulder County, Colorado.
To put the green in green energy
Solar farms have become a lifeline for farmers in need of income, but the problem is that conventional solar power plants are not very farming. Policymakers are already worried that replacing too much agricultural land with solar panels will lead to problems with food supply.
Agrivoltaics was born when a light bulb went off in someone’s head. If you take an ordinary solar panel on the ground and lift it just a few extra feet off the ground, enough sunlight and water can reach the earth to do agriculture under it.
There is no such thing as a free lunch, the longer shelves will be more expensive and it can be difficult to harvest on a commercial scale while dodging between the more expensive shelves.
Nevertheless, agrivoltaic has risen like a rocket over the past year or so, coupled with a spate of interest in the field of regenerative agriculture. Soil and water savings are the most important overlap, as the solar panel helps reduce evaporation. Meanwhile, the cooling effect of vegetation helps to improve the efficiency of the conversion of the sun.
The knowledge base is growing rapidly and at least one leading solar developer, Lightsource BP, already offers an agrivoltaic approach to its PV business.
US Division of Energy Hearts Green Energy
So far, much of the agrivoltaic activity in the United States has focused on combining pollinating habitats and pastures with green energy. There are also interesting activities going on in the blueberry swamp.
Meanwhile, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory at the Department of Energy is among those interested in growing real vegetables for people to eat in the solar panels.
This is where Jack’s Solar Garden comes in. In 2019, the family industry won an NREL award to serve as the site of the largest agrivoltaic research project in the United States, utilizing the 1,2-acre solar power of the 24-acre farm.
The project involves NREL as project manager and technical supporter, while Colorado State University conducts desks and field studies. The University of Arizona is also on board the project.
The initial proposal for the study area was quite modest and consisted of only 1 acre planted with different vegetables. However, a lot of pressure is being packed into space, including a new rainwater distribution system that uses the runoff from the solar panels.
Everybody Hearts Agrivoltaics
Part of the green energy of the project took shape last fall when Jack’s Solar Garden launched its new solar power, and this spring will be the first planting season. Along with the common wildflowers and grasses, the vegetables contain such as carrots, onions, tomatoes and pumpkin.
This spring could also be the start of a new burst of activity in the agrivoltaic field across the US. The solar supply chain is already ready to stimulate investors’ interest.
Earlier this week, PV tracking firm Solar FlexRack in Ohio faced Jack’s Solar Garden in a press release calling its “TDP Turnkey Solar Trackers,” which solar developer Namasté Solar used to build the scheme at Jack’s.
“Namasté Solar … chose Solar FlexRack’s TDP Solar Trackers because of their versatility, as well as their smart backtracking, which reduces shadows across rows and increases energy production,” Solar FlexRack said enthusiastically. the challenge of installing the trackers at different heights to test the impact of different amounts of shade and sunlight on crop growth while still maximizing solar power output. ”
Additional benefits for green energy for the green business of the future
For those who feel at home, Solar FlexRack is a division of Northern State Metals in Ohio, and the parent company does not leave an opportunity to link its star to the green energy coverages, as well as a number of community benefits. .
The press release from Solar FlexRack has a lot of love for Jack’s Solar Garden and noted that “with the help of Namasté Solar and Solar FlexRack, they were able to emphasize the idea of a community and also cultivate the next generation of agricultural farmers.”
The press release emphasizes these details:
Namasté Solar is a cooperative employed by employees and has been a certified B corporation since 2011, which means that it is ‘legally necessary’ to have the impact of their decisions on their employees, suppliers, communities, consumers and the environment to consider. ‘
2. Audubon Rockies have planted their largest “Habitat Hero” garden around solar power, consisting of 1,800 perennials.
3. Sprout City Farms will manage the crops and train Colorado’s first generation green energy farmers. The non-profit organization is known for building urban educational farms and supporting local food systems to improve the health and resilience of the community.
4. Jack’s Solar Garden donates 2% of its green energy production to low – income local households.
5. Jack’s also has an “Artist on the Farm” program to support local artists.
6. Jack’s has also established the new nonprofit Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center that will offer educational tours and research projects on the site.
More green energy for the whole community
To ice the green energy cake, solar power from the solar power plant at Jack’s Solar Garden falls under a community solar power program run by utility utility Xcel Energy. Community solar refers to solar projects that enable local taxpayers to claim a piece of green energy on solar panels in or near their community.
The Department of Energy is a big fan of community solar power programs and considers it an important way to bring affordable solar power within reach of every U.S. household.
Joint solar power programs also offer a green promotional corner to local businesses. The local firm Western Disposal, for example, received favorable media attention when it joined Jack’s Solar Garden last week for green energy.
“Western Disposal now obtains about 90% of its electricity from a renewable source, thanks to a new partnership with Jack’s Solar Garden,” he noted. Yahoo! News.
Then there is Boulder-based national weed producer Terrapin, which cost a deal for 10% of Jack’s Solar Garden’s production. The pressure is mounting on indoor marijuana growers to take their carbon footprints into account, and the solar deal will enable Terrapin to claim 25% renewable energy for its operations.
Follow me on Twitter @TinaMCasey.
Photo via prnewswire.com: “Byron Kominek, owner of Jack’s Solar Garden, rides on his family’s tractor through their solar power system (thanks to Werner Slocum, National Laboratory for Renewable Energy).
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