Sandbox Solar Expands Agrivoltaics Project at Colorado State University
The Bifacial Array ● These arrays harvest energy without shading crops during peak growing times. ● Photo Credit: Sandbox Solar
FORT COLLINS, Colo., June 19, 2024 (VSNewsNetwork.com) - Sandbox Solar has announced the completion of a new agrivoltaics project at Colorado State University's (CSU) Agricultural Research, Development and Education Center (ARDEC) South facility. The project, which features a vertical bifacial solar installation, aims to advance the integration of solar energy and agriculture.
Funded through Senate Bill 23-092, which allocated $500,000 in grants for agrivoltaics, the project is part of CSU’s effort to support Colorado’s transition to clean energy. This collaboration is intended to explore the potential benefits of combining solar power production with agricultural activities.
"The expansion of the agrivoltaic testing grounds at CSU represents a significant milestone in our mission to advance sustainable energy solutions," said Ian Skor, CEO of Sandbox Solar. "We are proud to partner with CSU and leverage our expertise to drive research and development in the field of agrivoltaics."
The installation includes wireless soil monitoring probes to collect data on microclimate conditions, energy production, and crop impacts. This will provide valuable insights for potential agricultural applications. “Our hope is that this will allow interested parties to evaluate how this configuration of agrivoltaics might work for them,” stated Mark Uchanski of Colorado State University.
Dr. Uchanski elaborated on the project’s goals, saying, "We aim to assess the feasibility of integrating vertical bifacial agrivoltaics into an irrigated agricultural system in Colorado. This includes determining the interoperability of the static PV system with large-scale agricultural equipment and evaluating both agronomic and horticultural crops growing between the modules. Another key objective is to quantify the impact of the crop on the electrical output of the vertical bifacial system as the season progresses.”
The Sunzaun vertical racking system, used in the project, offers a space-saving design suitable for agricultural land and other areas with limited space. It provides benefits such as wind protection and shade for crops, which can reduce water consumption and improve growing conditions. Tim Basulto, Product Manager of Sunzaun, remarked, “We see tremendous potential for combining agricultural land use with vertical solar installations in the USA. This project is a significant step in that direction, and we are excited to be part of it."
Greentech Renewables contributed equipment and technical support to the project. “At Greentech Renewables, we are committed to upholding our core values of service, integrity, and reliability to provide unwavering support to our customers. This dedication, along with our team of CSU alumni, motivated our decision to participate in this innovative project,” stated the Greentech Renewables team.
The project emphasizes public engagement, offering live field tours and virtual access to the Colorado Agrivoltaics Testing Grounds. Visitors can explore real-time data on electrical output and learn more about the benefits of agrivoltaics at https://sandboxsolar.com/csu-agrivoltaics-testing-grounds/.
For more information, visit www.SandboxSolar.com.
Source: Sandbox Solar via Newswire
