National Renewable Energy Laboratory & Chatfield Farms

We will explore the new 1.2 MW (5.5 acres, 2.2 hectares) agrivoltaic site at Chatfield Farms. Chatfield Farms has over 20 acres of mixed vegetable crops, corn , pumpkins, herbs and medical plants as its production agriculture side. We will produce an additional 5 acres of vegetables for food security projects, low watering methods, cover crop techniques, and native plants for seed collection. Chatfield also produces honey, native plantings and several research trial gardens that explore restored native prairies. We will get a little sample of all these aspects throughout the tour. Please wear good shoes and bring plenty of water and layers as it does get hot on the farm. The tour will include a long walk throughout different agricultural fields, so please be prepared for a moderate level of activity.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located in Golden, Colorado, is the United States' primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is the only federal laboratory dedicated to the research, development, commercialization, and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. NREL is home to the National Center for Photovoltaics, the National Bioenergy Center, and the National Wind Technology Center. NREL's 327-acre campus houses many research laboratories and the lab's administrative office. With a commitment to sustainable operations, the main campus boasts several LEED-platinum rated buildings, along with multiple on-site renewable energy installations.

NREL converted an existing 70 kW bifacial PV technology research system to an agrivoltaic research plot in 2022. Led by the InSPIRE research team, this plot contains research on crop production, pasture grasses, and native pollinator habitat.

NREL: Growing Plants, Power, and Partnerships Through Agrivoltaics

NREL: About

NREL’s Agrivoltaics Research: Combining Solar Energy With Agriculture (youtube.com)