Agrivoltaics: Jack’s Solar Garden

Byron Kominek - Owner, Jack’s Solar Garden

Byron Kominek spent his summers as a child on his family farm in Longmont Colorado. As an adult he realized that the family farm was losing money and it was getting worse every year. Byron felt that he could do more the land and set out to build a solar canopy that would simultaneously feed power to the local energy grid and generate revenue for his farm. By building a solar canopy versus installing the panels on the ground, he created a microclimate that enabled farming underneath the panels. Growing food on the same land as a solar canopy is called “Agrivoltaics.” In a few short years, Byron has been able to convert the family farm from a haying operation to producing electricity and food for the local community. Jacks Solar Garden is also a living lab where students from the University of Colorado and University of Arizona in partnership with the National Renewable Energy Lab are studying the benefits of the solar canopy for soil and plant health. The farming operation already produces more food with less water. Data gathered at Jack’s Solar Garden has the potential to improve farming operations around the world.