Climate Reality Project Portland Chapter Agrivoltaics talk

About the event

Chad Higgins, associate professor of biological and ecological engineering at Oregon State University, is a leading researcher in Agrivoltaics.  Combining food production with solar energy generation can improve farm yields, reduce water use and increase energy generation.  In a 2023 article, Chad estimated that “converting just 1% of American farmland to agrivoltaics could meet the nation’s renewable energy targets. Making this transition could create new revenue opportunities for family farms facing steep economic challenges.”  Chad is using grants from the Roundhouse Foundation, Oregon Clean Power Cooperative, and Portland General Electric to research solar arrays specifically designed to work with growing crops and grazing animals.  Climate Reality PDX is excited to hear the results of Chad’s research, and his recent work in Africa.