About this course

How to maximize the impact of solar with responsible land management practices.

With lofty clean energy goals cropping up across the United States and the world, communities are looking for ways to maximize the benefits of solar energy deployment in their locale. The co-location of solar and beneficial agriculture, or agrivoltaics, is a growing field within solar development.

In this introductory agrivoltaics course, Byron Kominek, founder of Jack's Solar Garden and co-founder of the Colorado Agrivoltaics Learning Center, joins us to explain the benefits of responsible land management practices for community solar gardens. Jack's Solar Garden is the largest commercially active agrivoltaics system researching a variety of crop and vegetation growth under solar panels not just in Colorado, but in the US!

Learning Objectives

  • Define agrivoltaics
  • Describe the key considerations when exploring agrivoltaic projects
  • Examine the benefits of co-locating agriculture and solar
  • Gain an understanding of what is possible within an agrivoltaic project

Course outline

3 modules
32 minutes of video lectures
Module 1 • 3 assignments
Agrivoltaics with Bryon of Jack's Solar Garden

Learn about the basics of agrivoltaics, Jack's Solar Garden, and the Colorado Agrivoltaics Learning Center.

  • Agrivoltaics at Jack's Solar Garden (32:10 minutes)
  • Jack's Solar Garden
  • Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center
Module 2 • 5 assignments
Learn More about Agrivoltaics

Read on for more resources on agrivoltaics.

  • AgriVoltaics Conference
  • AgriSolar Clearinghouse
  • Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE
  • American Solar Grazing Association (ASGA)
  • The potential of agrivoltaic systems (.pdf)

Author

Byron Kominek

Jack's Solar Garden

Byron Kominek is the owner and manager of Jack's Solar Garden, a 1.2 MW community solar garden showcasing how to integrate crops, people, pollinators, and research into one site. Byron also leads the Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center based at Jack's Solar Garden to provide educational opportunities to students, community members, and policymakers. Byron is not a...

Frequently asked questions

Full FAQ
How does this course work?
This is a free course. Enroll today and get access to all of the materials instantly. The lecture video and other materials are available any time.
How long do I have access to the materials?
For free courses there is no guarantee for how long the course materials will be available.
Is there a certificate of completion?
Certificates of completion are only provided to HeatSpring Membership subscribers. This course has not been approved by any credentialing organizations (NABCEP, AIA, USGBC etc) for Continuing Education Credits (CEUs). This course is for self education purposes only and completion does not indicate a level of professional expertise or credential.
Can I register multiple people?
Yes, this is a free course so you can share this page with other people from your group.

Reviews

4.6
Based on 73 reviews
557
students have taken this course
04/23/2022
Johnson M
09/24/2024

I think it is a good initiative to learn more about agrivoltaics for all.

HASIB HASAN
08/22/2023

This is an excellent introduction into agrivoltaics and is full of in-depth resources for further learning.

Sebastien Khandjian

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