One other SETO-funded undertaking is the AgriSolar Clearinghouse, which offers assets and technical help packages to farmers, photo voltaic corporations, and different stakeholders excited about co-locating photo voltaic and pollinator habitats. The clearinghouse consists of analysis findings, knowledge, and on-line instruments that deal with boundaries to solar-agriculture co-location and connects individuals via an internet discussion board, mailing listing, workshops, and farm excursions to facilitate peer alternate and mentoring.
This analysis will allow extra photo voltaic deployment to assist meet the Biden Administration’s aim of 100% carbon-free electrical energy by 2035. Our Photo voltaic Futures Research discovered that photo voltaic power might present 1 terawatt of electricity-generating capability, which might require using 5.7 million acres of land. Whereas that’s solely 0.3% of the full contiguous land space of america, you will need to perceive easy methods to maximize advantages to the native atmosphere and agricultural communities that host photo voltaic arrays.
A SETO-funded examine by Argonne Nationwide Laboratory and the Nationwide Renewable Power Laboratory discovered that 1,350 sq. miles of agricultural land in america in shut proximity to present or deliberate utility-scale photo voltaic deployments may gain advantage from pollinator habitat on the photo voltaic amenities. Different research have discovered that pollinator habitats can scale back operations and upkeep prices over time as a result of decrease mowing and herbicide prices.
In Might, SETO introduced the Foundational Agrivoltaic Analysis for Megawatt Scale (FARMS) funding alternative, which can fund initiatives that examine easy methods to scale up agrivoltaics, together with pollinator habitat, and maximize the mixed worth to photo voltaic power, pollinators, and agriculture. We look ahead to contemplating the pollinator initiatives functions, along with all the opposite agrivoltaics functions, when they’re submitted later this summer time.
If you’re excited about co-locating photo voltaic arrays and pollinator habitat, be a part of us on the Nationwide Mall on June 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET with our colleagues on the U.S. Division of Agriculture to have a good time Pollinator Week. Cease by and be taught extra in regards to the analysis we fund.
Be taught extra about SETO’s analysis in photo voltaic and agriculture co-location and photo voltaic power, wildlife, and the atmosphere.
