This spring, the Piedmont Environmental Council will unveil a project at our Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows with the potential to revolutionize the relationship between the agricultural lands that make up the heart of the Virginia Piedmont and the need for more solar energy capacity across the Commonwealth.
The flat and sunny characteristics that make up prime agricultural land also make it ideal for large solar installations, and this often puts the two land uses in competition for the same space. Dual-use of agriculture and solar together, called “agrivoltaics,” allows for a creative solution to this problem.
A handful of agrivoltaics projects involving livestock grazing or pollinator habitat have had unclear results in Virginia thus far. But crop-based agrivoltaics here is unprecedented, and farmers and developers are more likely to take a risk on a new setup with proven examples of success. That’s where PEC’s agrivoltaics project comes in.
PEC’s agrivoltaics installation will be built on approximately a half acre of the Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows, hosting 42 solar panels and eight rows of vegetables. Photo by Hugh Kenny
Groundbreaking research
Led by PEC Senior Energy and Climate Advisor Ashish Kapoor, our project will combine vegetable plantings with solar panels in an installation that will act as proof-of-concept for crop-based agrivoltaics projects in our region.
“Over the past 18 months, this project has required deep, thoughtful, long-term engagement to develop invaluable relationships throughout our region,” says Kapoor. “Our engagement on larger-scale solar grazing projects, meetings throughout the country, uniting disparate pieces from other projects, and development of this project give us on-the-ground insights to inform legislative policy and processes related to clean energy and land use.”
Recognizing that PEC had something seminal to offer in the emerging agrivoltaics field, Kapoor applied for the Clean Energy to Communities grant through the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). NREL awarded PEC the technical assistance grant and later selected our project out of a pool of applicants across the country to be part of a group of 15 organizations that will serve as a cohort network for some of the most pioneering agrivoltaics projects in the country.
Kapoor also ensured PEC had a seat at the table with many of the most important groups discussing solar siting and best practices in Virginia, including the Virginia Department of Energy’s Shared Solar incentive workgroup, Virginia Conservation Network’s solar siting workgroup, Virginia Tech’s agrivoltaics stakeholder group and a larger regional university agrivoltaics network.
“With so much at stake when it comes to meeting the state’s clean energy goals, these conversations are not always easy. But the knowledge shared through these partnerships will be key to determining a responsible, sustainable clean energy future for the Commonwealth,” he said.
What will it look like?
PEC has designed the solar panel installation at Roundabout Meadows with four rows of vegetables directly in the ground to mimic a traditional farm setup, and four in raised beds to make the project equally relevant to smaller, more urban farming. This allows the project to be replicated in a wide range of environments, including large and small farms, wineries, breweries and even parking lots.
Tiger Solar will install 42 solar panels in three rows of 14, spaced 12.5 feet apart so that sunlight can reach the crops underneath. The panels will be mounted on six-foot-high racks to allow workers and equipment to access the plantings.
PEC Community Farm Coordinator Teddy Pitsiokos expects that shade-tolerant crops like lettuces, brassicas, and root vegetables will thrive, but is excited about collecting data on other economically important regional staples like tomatoes and potatoes. “We have a feeling we know what’s going to do well, but we want to make data-based decisions. And that means trialing a variety of crops,” says Pitsiokos.
Beyond the right plantings, the logistics involved in getting the project off the ground — or, in this case, in the ground — have created some of the biggest challenges. Kapoor guided the project design through three different iterations, working with various developers along the way to find the best options. From permitting and insurance to panel height and racking types, “we are doing the hard work and figuring out the details to make it easier for those who come after us,” he says.
The Roundabout Meadows project will include a smart panel, which enables the farm to measure energy usage, as well as on-site battery storage. “Battery backup is key, because it allows the system to run when the grid goes down and covers the farm’s well pumps, produce cooler and heat mats in the greenhouse. Many farms are end-of-line users more likely to lose power, so the energy independence provided by the mix of battery and solar is compelling,” says Kapoor.
As it is now, PEC’s agrivoltaics project will generate about 130% of the farm’s energy needs, and Pitsiokos is already envisioning several possible future uses for the additional energy generation, from adding cold storage to replacing non-working gas powered tools with electric versions. “If anyone wants to buy us an electric tractor… I’m only half kidding,” he laughs.
What makes agrivoltaics better?
This work is directly aligned with PEC’s strategic plan priority of shaping and advancing Virginia’s clean energy future in ways that also respect and preserve this region’s important natural resources and rural economy. Well-done solar energy has an important role to play in this transition. Thoughtfully developed agrivoltaics incorporating best practices that minimize land impacts allows our rural economies to thrive by diversifying their revenue streams.
While PEC’s project is a behind-the-meter project intended to generate energy only for our farm, our model and findings will have implications for large utility-scale installations that will proliferate across our rural landscapes in the coming years. “This project pushes us to change how we see clean energy and agriculture,” says Kapoor. “If solar is developed thoughtfully, with agriculture firmly in mind, they don’t need to exist in opposition to one another.”
What’s Next?
Once completed, this project at Roundabout Meadows will act as a tangible demonstration site that local farmers, installers, developers and policymakers can visit.
Pitsiokos looks at this project not just as an opportunity to demonstrate the viability of crop-based agrivoltaics to others, but also as a chance to connect directly with farmers. “Hopefully after a couple of seasons doing this, we can become advocates with real data and go to conferences and talk to farmers about this. As a farmer, I’m excited to be on the cutting edge and talk to farmers in their own language about the possibilities.”
“This project took a lot of hard work — blood, sweat and tears — to get to this stage,” says Kapoor. “A lot of folks stepped up in different ways to support the process. This dynamic intersection of agriculture and energy will continue to grow exciting new relationships, and more best practices will be born from this confluence.”
This article appeared in the 2024 winter edition of The Piedmont Environmental Council’s member newsletter, The Piedmont View. If you’d like to become a PEC member or renew your membership, please visit pecva.org/join.