Agrivoltaics
Agrivoltaics combines solar photovoltaic-based renewable energy generation with agricultural production. The technology shows promise to mitigate climate change impacts on crop and livestock productivity, generate significant clean, renewable energy, increase agricultural water efficiency, diversify and enhance income sources for farmers, and increase the productivity of agricultural land-use in the nation.
The College of Agricultural Sciences and Agricultural Experiment Station is building infrastructure and supporting fundamental and practical research needed to accelerate the adoption of innovative agrivoltaic systems in Colorado.
Achievements
$180K in Funding
Colorado Department of Agriculture has committed $180K in funding to install photovoltaic panels over cattle pens at CSU’s Agricultural Research, Development and Education Center. These panels will complement existing panels over sheep grazing areas already at the center.
Experimental Agrivoltaic Research Arrays
CSU faculty, Alan Knapp–Biology and Ron Meyer–extension agronomist, are currently funded by the USDA-NIFA Sustainable Agricultural Systems program to build replicated Experimental Agrivoltaic Research Arrays –consisting of rows of PV panels deployed at low-density to accommodate dual agriculture and energy generation land use in native Colorado grasslands.
Photovoltaic Panels
Photovoltaic panels are being constructed over the Semi-Arid Grassland Research Center, an AES rangeland site located in Nunn, CO.
Small Scale Agrivoltaics
Small scale agrivoltaics experiments are underway at ARDEC-South over vegetables. These experiments, led by Mark Uchanski in HLA, are testing various panel transparencies for impacts on production.
Solutions to Colorado Commodity Challenges Initiative
Through the Solutions to Colorado Commodity Challenges initiative, CAS and AES have invested a total of $160K into four projects to help CSU researchers build competitive programs in the area of agrivoltaics, including:
$19,000 for Rooftop Agrivoltaics
Support for the leafy green yield and environmental condition characterization research project.
Project Leads: Bousselot, Sampath, Sites, Meyer and Ballard.
$34,000 for Evaluating the Potential of Different Agrivoltaic Systems in Colorado
Project Leads: Schipanski, Toy, Knapp, Malin, Macknick, Kominek. Partner: Jack’s Solar Garden.
$24,000 for Balancing Innovation with Practicality
Assessing agrivoltaics from the perspectives of Western Colorado fruit orchard growers.
Project Leads: Tonnessen, Hoag.
$30,000 for Agrivoltaics innovation for Colorado
Project Lead: Uchanski; Partners: Irrigation Innovation Consortium; Sandbox Solar.
Become part of our agricultural community and experience hands-on learning while building relationships. Bring your creativity, ideas and lived experiences. Leave with the confidence to collectively solve the grand challenges of sustaining our natural resources and feeding the world.
