Agrivoltaics: Progress and Potential with Jordan Macknick, NREL | EP230

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.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.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.Social Media HandlesJordan MacknickInSPIRe DatabaseNREL Solar Market Research & Analysis: Agrivoltaics Support the showConnect with Tim  Clean Power Hour  Clean Power Hour on YouTubeTim on TwitterTim on LinkedIn Email [email protected] Review Clean Power Hour on Apple PodcastsThe Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email:  [email protected] sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems.  Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com