In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague sits down with Jordan Macknick, a senior researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), to explore the fascinating world of agrivoltaics. With over a decade of experience in the field, Macknick offers a comprehensive look at the intersection of solar energy and agriculture, shedding light on the current state and future potential of this innovative approach to land use.
The conversation begins with Macknick's journey into agrivoltaics, going back to his early work in the wind industry and NREL's first agrivoltaics experiment in 2010. He then delves into NREL's mission to provide foundational data and services that enable better decision-making in the rapidly evolving field of agrivoltaics. Macknick discusses the challenges and opportunities in developing tools that can predict optimal agrivoltaics configurations for specific locations, emphasizing the need for more empirical data to refine these models.
A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the current landscape of agrivoltaics projects in the United States. Macknick highlights NREL's agrivoltaics map, a valuable resource tracking over 500 projects totaling more than 10 gigawatts of solar capacity across the country. He explains how these projects vary by region, adapting to local conditions and agricultural needs.
The episode also explores different applications of agrivoltaics, from the prevalent sheep grazing to the emerging potential of cattle grazing and growing crops. Macknick shares insights on ongoing research projects and the considerations for integrating larger livestock into solar installations. He touches on the economic and practical challenges of adapting solar designs to accommodate different agricultural activities.
Towards the end, Macknick introduces NREL's inspired data portal, a comprehensive database of nearly 700 research papers on agrivoltaics. This resource allows stakeholders to access and filter the latest scientific findings in the field, supporting informed decision-making and further research.
This episode offers valuable insights for solar developers, farmers, policymakers, and anyone interested in the future of sustainable energy and agriculture. Tune in to better understand how solar and farming can work together to create a more sustainable and productive future.
Social Media Handles
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-macknick-94795627/
https://openei.org/wiki/InSPIRE
http://www.nrel.gov/
https://www.nrel.gov/solar/market-research-analysis/agrivoltaics.html
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00:00 Introduction
01:53 Jordan Macknick and NREL's Background
03:31 NREL's mission in agrivoltaics
05:06 The need for better agrivoltaics analysis tools
10:07 NREL's role in tool development
11:55 NREL's role in Diversifying agrivoltaics
16:23 Sheep grazing in solar farms: Current state and challenges
17:23 Exploring cattle grazing in solar installations
20:31 NREL's agrivoltaics map: A comprehensive resource
23:36 The inspired data portal: Synthesizing agrivoltaics research
24:56 Comparing NREL resources with the Agrisolar Clearinghouse
26:27 Closing remarks and how to find NREL's agrivoltaics resources
