How Vertical Solar Is Solving Land Use Conflicts in Agriculture | Agrivoltaics Revolution | EP293

Clean Power Hour

What if farmers could double their income from the same land while fighting climate change?

Today on the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague sits down with two pioneering leaders who are revolutionizing how we think about solar energy and agriculture. Helge Biernath, CEO of Sunzaun (and Sunstall, the mechanical installation company), and Ian Skor, CEO of Sandbox Solar, share groundbreaking insights into vertical solar technology and its game-changing applications in agrivoltaics.

Discover how vertical solar panels are transforming farming:

• Learn why upright solar panels running north-south are perfect for agricultural integration
• Understand how farmers can maintain 80-90% of their crop production while generating clean energy
• Explore real-world applications from Colorado State University's research facilities
• See how this technology helps with water conservation, worker protection, and climate resilience

Key insights covered:

• Why vertical solar uses only 10-20% of farmland while preserving agricultural operations
• How this technology works with commodity crops like alfalfa and corn
• The economic benefits for both farmers and solar developers
• Challenges with current modeling tools and breakthrough solutions like Spade
• Success stories from California's Central Valley to Colorado's research farms

Whether you're a farmer looking to diversify income, a solar developer seeking new opportunities, or simply curious about sustainable agriculture, this episode reveals practical solutions that are starting to be implemented across the United States.

Don't miss the upcoming panel discussion on July 15th featuring these experts and others! Check cleanpowerhour.com/events for details.

Hit play to discover how vertical solar is creating win-win solutions for clean energy and sustainable agriculture!

Connect with Guests

Sandbox Solar

Ian Skor

Helge Biernath

Sunzaun

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