InSPIRE/Sites/Big Lake Solar

Big Lake Solar

Minnesota: Crop Production

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Project Details

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US Solar’s Big Lake site is a 9-acre, 1 megawatt (MW) solar array sitting on an 18-acre parcel owned by US Solar. This project was built in 2018 and was planted with a native pollinator mix, including 7 grasses and 18 flowering plants, surrounded by a couple hundred spruce trees. Now, US Solar is growing a deeper partnership with NREL and Big River Farms to test adding horticultural vegetation to this site.

Project Website https://www.us-solar.com/agrivoltaics

Project Owner USS

Project Developer USS

EIA ID 61997

Year Installed 2018

Crop Types Vegetables (kohlrabi, cabbage, broccoli, kale, chard, peppers, parsley, tomatoes)

Crop Location In-between Panels

Cultivated Land 0.014 Acres

Habitat TypePollinator, Native grasses

Irrigation No

Agrivoltaic Partners Big River Farms, Connexus Energy

Previous Land Use Agriculture (potato farm)

Project Publications https://www.mprnews.org/story/2023/11/07/farming-and-solar-landsharing-could-be-key-to-clean-energy-future

Monofacial PV

East/West Single-axis Tracking

18.1 acres

1.4 MWdc

36" Panel height

Crop Production, Habitat

Research Details

Research Ongoing Yes

InSPIRE Research Site Yes

Parent Research Site Minnesota: Crop Production

Research Summary Crop production

Research Objectives 1. Evaluate vegetable crop success (harvest yield, water stress, pest and animal damage) underneath single axis tracking panels 2. Compare success of crops grown underneath tracking panels versus in a control plot not underneath tracking panels

Research Methods 1. Quantify crop yield per plant 2. Track crop success through water stress, insect damage, and animal damage

Preliminary Results Research is ongoing

Press and News Features https://solarbuildermag.com/projects/usda-officials-help-launch-agrivoltaic-demo-projects-at-minnesota-state-fair/

https://hpj.com/2023/09/01/solar-agrivoltaics-touted-at-minnesota-state-fair/ https://cleantechnica.com/2023/08/28/agrivoltaics-to-save-us-farmland-from-buildings/ https://tcbmag.com/usda-officials-tout-solar-projects-in-minnesota/

https://solarindustrymag.com/pilot-project-aims-to-increase-solar-preserve-farm-land

Site Details

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Climate Zone 6A

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 4a

Project Partners

NREL, US Solar, Big River Farms

Last modified: 2024-01-16

Crop ProductionHabitat

"1. Evaluate vegetable crop success (harvest yield, water stress, pest and animal damage) underneath single axis tracking panels 2. Compare success of crops grown underneath tracking panels versus in a control plot not underneath tracking panels" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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