Students from around the world are encouraged to participate in the AgriVoltaics Student Design Competition as part of the 5th Agrivoltaic World Conference hosted in Denver, Colorado, June 11th-13th. Winning students will have the opportunity to present their work to an international audience, while all teams will have the ability to showcase their projects in poster format at the Conference Design Competition Showcase.
Submissions will be judged by a panel of international experts. University Student Awards will be given to the top project from each location: Denver County, Mesa County, and Weld County in Colorado, USA.
Background
Agrivoltaics is the combination of agriculture and solar photovoltaic technologies on the same land in novel configurations. These systems actively prioritize food production (crops and/or livestock), ecosystem services, farm viability, local community values, and land use efficiency alongside energy generation to increase the sustainability and shared value of solar development. Lessons learned from early research and development of agrivoltaics underscores how inclusive and holistic system design is a key component of success, as design impacts farm operation compatibility, crop suitability, power production, site environmental conditions, and social acceptance.
The AgriVoltaics 2024 Student Design Competition aims to inspire students to think creatively and holistically about energy integration across rural and urban landscapes. The purpose of this competition is to provide students an opportunity to develop innovate agrivoltaic design concepts that address community sustainability challenges across the food-energy-water nexus. To that end, we are orienting the evaluation of projects around the 5 C’s of Agrivoltaic Success – Climate, Configuration, Crops and Cultivation, Compatibility, Collaboration – to ensure a full range of technical, social, and ecological factors are integrated into agrivoltaic projects . The final aim of this competition is to design a novel compelling agrivoltaic solution for common use cases globally, building off real sites based in Colorado, USA.
Students are encouraged to leverage findings from recent scientific research in a range of fields, including but not limited to agricultural sciences, ecology, sociology, human behavior, and urban design theory. Student participants have the opportunity to apply established research theories in their designs, which should be grounded in evidence-based approaches while also pushing the boundaries of what is possible in agrivoltaic systems. This includes providing measurable data and best practices to demonstrate tangible environmental, social, and economic benefits.
Competition Objectives
Innovative Integration: Proposals should create designs that thoughtfully integrate PV facilities into agricultural landscapes while co-optimizing agricultural productivity, energy generation, and engagement.
Food Energy Water Nexus: Proposals should address all aspects of the food energy water nexus, particularly in optimizing agricultural and energy outputs while minimizing the impacts of freshwater usage in the context of Colorado’s climate.
Scalability and Adaptability: Relative to each location’s scale, designs should be adaptable to different geographies with similar climatic conditions.
Social Dimensions and Community Engagement: Proposals should include novel approaches to engage local communities and stakeholders in the context of food and energy generation on the same land area, including long-term food security considerations.
Competition Judging Committee
Dr. Stefano Amaducci // Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Italy
Dr. Stephan Schindele // Head of Product Management Agri-PV at BayWa r.e., Germany
Dr. Jody Beck // University of Colorado Denver, College of Architecture and Planning, Landscape Architecture Department, USA
Jane Choi // Colorado State University, Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture, USA
Makoto Tajima // Director of the Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies (ISEP), Japan
Julia Park // Namaste Solar, O&M Portfolio Manager, USA
Jordan Macknick // NREL, Lead Energy-Water-Land Analyst, USA
Diane Lipovsky // SUPERBLOOM, Principal & Co-Founder, USA
Site Context
As agrivoltaic solutions can look different based on different agricultural contexts, this competition is considering three distinct agricultural applications that are representative of conditions for which novel agrivoltaic solutions are needed across the globe. This includes large-scale cattle grazing and commodity crop farming; fruit production, orchards, and viticulture; and urban systems that could include smaller farms and/or rooftop systems. To provide a consistent set of boundary conditions related to climate and scale, specific locations within the state of Colorado have been selected as host sites for the competition categories.
Project teams must select one location from the table below, then find a plot of land that fits within the Max Land Area. Student groups will then design an agrivoltaic site that matches the agricultural application for their scale and location.
Location
Agricultural Application
Max Land Area
Weld County, CO, USA
Cattle Grazing / Commodity Crop Farming
200 hectares
(500 Acres)
Mesa County, CO, USA
Fruit Production / Orchard / Viticulture
8 hectares
(20 Acres)
Denver County, CO, USA
Urban Farm / Rooftop Farm / Small Farm
2 hectares
(5 Acres)
Mesa County // Western Slope
Mesa County is located within Colorado’s Western Slope, a region of the state that lies west of the continental divide. The agricultural sector in Mesa County is facing modern challenges, particularly influenced by the region's unique climate and water resources. The Western Slope's agriculture heavily relies on irrigation from rivers and streams, with over 90% of water diversions in the area managed for crops like fruits, vegetables, hay, and alfalfa. This variety is supported by the Colorado River, which provides essential irrigation water. However, the region faces significant challenges due to declining river flows and overconsumption downstream on the Colorado River Basin. This highlights the importance of water resource management in the region, as agriculture is the largest user of water from the Colorado River and its tributaries.
Climate change poses another challenge, particularly for fruit orchards. The orchards in this area, situated at high altitudes, require special care and are subject to unpredictable and volatile weather conditions, including the likelihood of unseasonal frost. Despite the challenges, the unique climate of the Western Slope contributes to the distinct flavor and quality of the fruit produced in the region, Overall, the agriculture sector in Mesa County is adapting to changing environmental conditions and water resource challenges, while continuing to produce high-quality agricultural products.
Denver County // Front Range Urban Corridor
Denver is situated on the western edge of the High Plains, adjacent to the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains' Front Range. Known as the "Mile High City," Denver's official elevation is precisely one mile above sea level (5280 feet or 1609.3 meters). The greater Denver Metropolitan Area, encompassing 10 counties, had a 2020 census population of 2,963,821, ranking as the 19th most populous in the United States. Sitting at the epicenter of the Denver Metro Area is Denver County. Denver County’s population has grown from ~551,000 in 2004, to ~713,000 in 2022 - an increase of nearly 30% over that time span. It is the most populous city in a 900 km (560 Mile) radius and holds the position of the second-most populous city in the Mountain West region.
As the Denver Metropolitan area continues to grow in population, the associated stresses of urbanization grow with it. Developing over natural habitats, open space, and agricultural lands; inflated land values, food insecurities, and a strain on the limited water supply have all become a reality in Denver County. In an effort to combat the loss of open space, in 2018, Denver passed the Green Building Ordinance to encourage building developers to consider green spaces within the city by enhancing water and stormwater management, and promoting the utilization of solar energy sources. Overall, Denver is adapting to the influx of population as its happening - new solutions that maximize land use will be necessary to maintain sustainable growth in the Mile High City.
Weld County // Eastern Plains
Weld County, Colorado has firmly established itself as a leading agricultural region both within the state and across the United States. It's recognized as the leading (economic) agricultural producing county east of the Rocky Mountains and ranks within the top 10 in the United States. The county's agricultural landscape is vast, covering over one million hectares (2.5 million acres), with about 75% of this area dedicated to farming and livestock raising. This includes more than 3,000 farms actively contributing to the county's agricultural output.
Weld County is particularly known for being Colorado's leading producer of beef cattle, grain, sugar beets, and dairy. The dairy industry, in particular, has seen significant growth, with the number of milk cows doubling between 2010 and 2021. This growth in the dairy sector has also brought challenges, especially in terms of water usage which is a critical resource in the region's semi-arid environment.
Rules & Requirements
Eligibility – The Competition is open to currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students in any country.
Students K-12 may participate and submit projects, but will be subject to different review process and will NOT be eligible for University Student Awards.
Only one design submission is allowed per person or team.
Maximum 4 students per team – no restriction on group composition (field of study, year of study, etc).
All deliverables to be submitted in the English language.
All Competition winners should be present at the AgriVoltaics 2024 Conference to receive their award, or provide a 3-minute pre-recorded video to acknowledge their award
Finalists will be notified in advance to prepare.
All individuals or teams need a Faculty Point of Contact.
No indirect costs allowed for institutions
All submissions will be managed through the HeroX Platform.
All participants must indicate their intent to submit a final project by "Following the Competition" via HeroX Platform by March 29, 2024.
Grading & Guidelines
Grading Criteria
Topics
Key Criteria to Consider
Points
Climate, Soil, and Environment
-General site analysis of existing conditions
-Water access and management
-Suitability based on soil and climate conditions
-Siting considerations, proximity to infrastructure
10
Configuration, Solar Technologies, and Design
-PV design (including panel height and groundcover ratio)
-Project layout within the land area
-PV system capacity and generation
-PV technology (modules and racking)
30
Cultivation Methods, Crop Selection, and Management Approaches
-Vegetation / Crop selection suitability based on Climate and Configuration
-Harvesting and site management
-Planting / vegetation / grazing plans
-Markets and distribution in context of local food systems
10
Compatibility and Flexibility
-Vegetation / Crop selection suitability based on Climate and Configuration
-Harvesting and site management
-Planting / vegetation / grazing plans
-Markets and distribution in context of local food systems
20
Collaboration and Partnerships
-Consideration of potential social impacts of project design
-Identification of relevant types of partners and agreements across different sectors
-Community and stakeholder engagement opportunities
-Educational opportunities
20
Project Novelty and Impact
-Novelty and uniqueness of approach
-Scalability of project design across geographies
-Other relevant factors important to adoption of agrivoltaic systems
10
Total 100
Submission Guidelines
All submissions must be submitted through the HeroX Platform. Student teams must create a HeroX account and then "Solve the Challenge" by completing all sections of the Submission Form.
To be eligible for consideration, all submissions must satisfy the following guidelines:
1. Project Narrative (1,500 words maximum):
Purpose Statement – Includes overview of project, goals, scope, etc.
Discussion of the project’s key considerations in the context of the “5 C’s of Agrivoltaics Success” – How is a full range of technical, social, and ecological factors integrated into the project?
Optional “Other Justification” – Describe any other relevant analysis or factors worth consideration.
The winning student teams from each location and scale (Denver County, Mesa County, and Weld County) will be awarded up to $3,000 thanks to our industry sponsors!
We will be hosting a virtual "Office Hours" session in one week Friday, April 5th from 10am - 11am MT to answer any questions teams may have. After the meeting we will post all questions to the FAQ section.
Please use the Microsoft Teams meeitn link below to join the call next Friday.
Thank you for your interest in the AgriVoltaics 2024 Student Design Competition!
We are just past the halfway mark of the competition and only one week away from the Intent to Register Deadline on Friday, March 29th!
Please "Follow the Challenge" and then click "Solve this Challenge" to officially register your team. Once you have registered you may come back to edit your submission any time before the final Submission Deadline on May 10th.
Awards
We are thrilled to share that each of the 3 winning teams will be awarded at least $2,000 thanks to our industry sponsorship partners! Official Industry Sponsors will be announced in the next few weeks.
Winning teams will be notified by June 1st & will be invited to present their projects during conference Award Ceremony or prepare video to be shown during this time.
Conference Agenda
The Student Design Competition Award ceremony is scheduled to take place on the first night of the Conference, June 11th at 5pm at CSU Spur Campus, before the Official Conference Dinner.
We will be hosting a virtual "Office Hours" session onFriday April 5th to answer any questions teams may have. Please stay tuned for another update next week with details about the Office Hours session times and accessibility.
If you have any immediate questions please email: thomas.hickey@nrel.gov