SBIR-STTR Award

This project will combine a semi-rigid solar panel with a low cost hoop house resulting a protected agriculture structure at an installed cost of less than $2.00/W. This cost point allows for capital financing from energy developers through a commercial power purchase agreement. Combining solar with agriculture opens up farmland to solar development that would normally be off limits for a solar only installation. Combined solar and covered agriculture can provide jobs community farming greenhouse space as well as power for agricultural support businesses such as packinghouses and refrigeration centers. Protected agriculture has up to 10x greater water use efficiency making it ideal for arid climates were sunshine id plentiful. This will create a synergy between solar financing agricultural business community farming and jobs. Combined solar + covered agriculture can (1) generate power in agricultural zones without sacrificing productive farmland (2)provide agricultural jobs to the community and (3) reduce water consumption with increased crop yields A WIN-WIN-WIN scenario..