EPRI’s Post

Estuaries are great for birdwatching, but these areas where rivers meet the salty sea could also be sources of “blue” energy. A new take on osmotic energy-harvesting membranes works as a sort-of salt battery 🔋 to more than double the amount of harvested power compared to commercial membranes. Researchers share details about their eco-friendly design in ACS Energy Letters. https://brnw.ch/21wJnwT

EOR will be exhibiting at the 2024 Solar Farm Summit, North America's Agrivoltaics Expo, from July 8-10. Visit booth C2 in the Cassatt Ballroom to talk with Joe Pallardy, Hallie Brychel, and Kevin Griggs. The Solar Farm Summit is sponsored by American Farmland Trust and explores exciting intersection of solar energy, agriculture and land stewardship: 🐑 Dual Use—pairing solar power development and agricultural production, or agrivoltaics, to which this dual-use development forum is dedicated. 🌎 Land Use—understanding solar's energy impacts on soils, surface water, groundwater and habitat, and ways to seize the multipurpose potential of integrating solar power development into symbiotic agricultural and/or ecological systems. ☀ Ecosystem Services—combining solar development, conservation and best agricultural practices to harness the land's true multi-functional potential and unlock new values beyond megawatts, maximum employment & marginal tax revenues. #agrivoltaics #solar #ecosystemservices #environmentalmarkets

Agrivoltaics: The future of food and energy is here 🌱 In this episode of Off The Grid, we chat with Rufus Wallis about the incredible potential of agrivoltaics. This groundbreaking concept combines solar energy production with agriculture, allowing us to produce more food and energy with less land. Rufus shares his insights on the latest trends in agrivoltaics, the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, and how it is poised to play a major role in the transition to a clean energy future. ⚡ Tune in now to learn more about this exciting new field and how it could revolutionize the way we produce food and energy! Youtube: https://lnkd.in/e6nn4cfd #agrivoltaics #renewableenergy #futureofenergy #offthegridpodcast

In the last fifteen years there has been a great increase in the installation of photovoltaic parks for electricity production energy from renewable sources. These parks usually cover agricultural land, which in many cases is highly productive land. The European Union (EU), in its attempt to deal with the problem of the possible reduction of agricultural land available for cultivation, promotes the practice of Agro-Photovoltaic systems (APVs), which ensure the simultaneous use of the land, both for the production of electricity through photovoltaics, as well as for agricultural production. This practice is very relevant to a number of EU policies (energy transition, agriculture, environment, research and innovation), directly supporting the objectives of the European Green Deal. In order for this development to occur, various challenges related to the installation of APVs will have to be explored and addressed. In the framework of the Horizon 2020 programs, the European Commission funded the REGACE project, in which the University of Thessaly (UTH), led by Professors CHRYSSOULA PAPAIOANNOU and Nikolaos Katsoulas, and 11 other partners from the EU and Israel, participate. https://lnkd.in/djBaQxh5 #EU #HorizonEurope #REGACE #UTH #Trisolar #APVs #Installation #Greenhouses #AgroPhotovoltaic #Energy #Agriculture #Innovation

🌿☀️ Agrivoltaics: The Future of Solar and Agriculture 🌾🔌 I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Dan French, founder of the Solar Farm Summit, the leading agrivoltaics conference in the U.S. Dan shared his insights on the exciting potential of combining solar power generation with agriculture, and how this innovative approach can benefit both industries and the environment. Agrivoltaics can be divided into three main categories: crops grown under solar panels, livestock grazing around solar installations, and the conservation of native species and pollinator habitats (crops, critters and conservation!). While still in its early stages in the U.S., agrivoltaics has already shown promising results, such as increased yields for shade-tolerant crops and reduced water usage. The Solar Farm Summit, taking place July 8-10, 2024 in Chicago, aims to bring together professionals from the solar industry, agriculture, policy, and research to collaborate and advance agrivoltaics. With strong USDA presence and bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate, the future looks bright for this emerging field. Agrivoltaics not only helps mitigate the impact of climate change on agriculture but also provides additional revenue streams for farmers and rural communities. As the demand for clean energy grows and traditional agriculture faces challenges, agrivoltaics offers a way to create synergies between these two vital industries. If you're interested in learning more about agrivoltaics and connecting with like-minded professionals, I highly recommend attending the Solar Farm Summit. Farmers and ranchers can even attend for free! Let's work together to build a more sustainable future for both energy and agriculture. 🔗 For more information, visit: solarfarmsummit.com #agrivoltaics #solarenergy #sustainableagriculture #cleanenergy #solarfarmsummit #sustainability #innovation #collaboration

🌻 "Agrivoltaic systems combine solar photovoltaic energy production with agriculture to improve land-use efficiency. We provide an upper-bound reduced-order cost estimate for widespread implementation of Agrivoltaic systems in the United States. We find that 20% of the US’ total electricity generation can be met with Agrivoltaic systems if less than 1% of the annual US budget is invested into rural infrastructure. Simultaneously, Agrivoltaic systems align well with existing Green New Deal goals. Widescale installation of Agrivoltaic systems can lead to a carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reduction equivalent to removing 71,000 cars from the road annually and the creation of over 100,000 jobs in rural communities. Agrivoltaics provide a rare chance for true synergy: more food, more energy, lower water demand, lower carbon emissions, and more prosperous rural communities." Kyle W. Proctor, PhD Ganti Murthy Chad Higgins #agrophotovoltaics #agrivoltaics #solarpowergeneration #energygeneration #climate #climatecrisis #microclimate #globalwarming #weather #electricity #energytechnology #technologytrends #technologyassessment #innovation #levelizedcosts #agriculture #farming #ecology #environment #environmentalimpact #socialimpact #landuse

#AgriSolar development in the US....... #agrivoltaics #regenerativeagriculture #energytransition #climateresilience

Vast majority of German farmers ready to embrace agrivoltaics A new survey conducted by Germany’s Fraunhofer ISE showed that 72.4% of the country’s farmers are considering the deployment of an agrivoltaic project. Among the main factors behind this choice, the researchers identified the additional source of income coming from solar power generation and the perceived usefulness of the technology. #utilityscalePV #GermanPV #Agrivoltaics #AgriPV #Solarfarming #FarmPV

Ever wonder what energy engineers like us do, and how our work translates into real life support (and energy savings) for growers and utilities? This CEAg World interview with our Senior Energy Engineer Gretchen Schimelpfenig, PE goes into all that and more - check it out! (And yes, we quite agree with Gretchen - as much as we love a good spreadsheet, interviews are very different!) 😂 If you work in the agriculture industry, we want to help connect you with savings! Contact us today about your project: https://buff.ly/49EK7Gk #Greenhousegrown #IndoorFarming #ControlledEnvironmentAgriculture #CEA #Energy #EnergyEfficiency #EnergySavings #Consulting #Design #Construction #Funding #REAP #Implementation #Resilience #Research #Utility #Utilities #ProgramDesign #Rebates #Analysis #Grants #Interview #EnergyEngineers #EnergyEngineering #EfficiencyEngineer #ClimateChange #CombatClimateChange #Spreadsheets #SmartControls

Electric Grid: Agriculture Dept. Awards $671M for Rural Energy, Water Projects The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a significant investment of $671 million to enhance energy and water infrastructure in rural areas. This funding aims to modernize the electric grid and support sustainable energy projects, ensuring rural communities have access to reliable and efficient energy sources. Key initiatives include upgrading aging electrical systems, promoting renewable energy projects, and improving water management infrastructure. These efforts are expected to bolster local economies, create jobs, and enhance the quality of life for rural residents. By investing in these critical areas, the USDA is taking a substantial step towards sustainable development and energy resilience in rural America. This initiative underscores the importance of modern infrastructure to support agricultural productivity and environmental stewardship. #RuralDevelopment #EnergyInfrastructure #USDA #SustainableAgriculture #RenewableEnergy