Northern Exposure: Agrivoltaics in Alaska and the Northern U.S. (ASGA Call 77)

For this webinar, we tackled high-latitude agrivoltaics in Alaska and North Dakota.

First we heard from the team developing the agrivoltaics research project at the Houston Solar site in Alaska. They broke down the unique conditions for solar energy production in Alaska and how they design sites to match Alaska’s climate and sun conditions (i.e. spacing rows 50 feet apart to match the low sun angle). Then the team discussed agriculture and forage conditions in Alaska and the unique challenges and opportunities that northern agrivoltaics holds for farmers, solar developers, and investors. Through a FARMS grant, the University of Alaska team will investigate how row crops and forage crops perform under a utility-scale solar farm. 

After that, Craig Whippo from USDA’s Agricultural Research Service team spoke on their plans for research grazing mixed sheep and cattle in an agrivoltaic system in North Dakota. 

Event Speakers:

• Glenna Gannon (University of Alaska Fairbanks)
• Jenn Miller (Renewable IPP)
• Justine Chausson-Roberts (CleanCapital)
• Craig Whippo (USDA Agricultural Research Service: Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory)

Our ASGA event recordings are available to members of ASGA’s online network. Not a member? Please join us here!