Agrisolar News #4
Welcome back to AgrisolarNews!
In this month’s issue, please meet a couple more of our growing partner base, find a recap of our whole-of-CRC-governance briefing & workshop, and some exciting news on our contributions & emerging resources.
Foundational Partner Spotlight:
Meet a couple more of our growing network!
Atlas Renewables is a service aggregator that provides creative renewable energy solutions to forward-thinking businesses.
Atlas Renewables’ expertise in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors ensures that they partner with leading industry experts to provide cutting-edge solutions and technology to meet the ever-changing needs of our customers.
Not only do they work tirelessly to offer pioneering solutions, they are also innovators in the field, dedicated to consistently deliver best practice to preserve and utilise our world’s natural resources.
Reach out to George Guse to know more about how Atlas intends to be involved in the CRC and beyond!
As a regionally & rurally-based University in Victoria, Federation University are committed to growing partnerships that support the social license to operate for Agrisolar across Australia. Their Future Regions Research Centre aims to transform lives and enhance communities. They are committed to applying their world-class research to real-world challenges and to making a positive impact both regionally and globally.
They bring exceptional co-design, rural partnering, and scientific research expertise to the table and we at the bid team are thrilled to confirm their involvement in the research-partner consortium for our bid.
Reach out to Cathy Tischler to know more.
Governance Model Workshop
A fortnight ago, we invited you to attend an online briefing for our proposed governance model. This session was exceptionally well attended and we received lots of support for the proposed structure! We are collating and compiling your feedback presently with a view to posting the finalised model on our website next month. If you missed the session, please reach out to our team so that you can watch a copy of the recording!
What’s this?! An opportunity to chat Agrisolar in-the-flesh??
Our Bid Director, Dr Liz Smith, will be speaking on opportunities for Agrisolar in Australia at the Asia-Pacific Solar Research Conference in December!
The focus of the 2024 APSRC is to provide a platform for researchers in solar energy and related fields to present their research, exchange information and foster collaboration to further the uptake of renewable energy throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The particular focus is to provide students working within a range of solar disciplines the chance to showcase their research and to learn from other researchers.
Join Dr Smith and other expert panellists from within our amazing CRC consortium Stephen Todd (VoltFarmer), Stephan Ong (SunBioSys) and Tyler Lloyd (Mid-West AgVolts Systems) at the Stamford Plaza, Sydney Airport on 3-5 December.
Industry EOIs are still welcome! Reach out for instructions to lodge if you are unsure of what to do.
Research Partner EOIs close Nov 30. Reach out for instructions to lodge your preliminary EOI here if you have not already.
We’ve been thrilled to work with Central Queensland University, UNSW, Perfection Fresh and the India-based Renkube on an application to the Centre for Australia-India Relations, Maitri Grant Program 2024-25, with the view to linking Australia and India in AgriSolar Research.
Keen to look at funding opportunities throughout the globe for Agrisolar?
You might want to learn more about the Australian Government’s commitment of A$50 million to the QuadClean Energy Supply Chain Diversification Program to develop and diversify clean energy supply chains in the Indo-Pacific region.
Funding is available for research and development projects and feasibility studies targeting solar photovoltaic, hydrogen electrolyser and battery supply chains. Projects must be jointly delivered between Australian organisations and Indo-Pacific organisations. Up to A$25million is available under Round 1 of the Program, with grant sizes ranging from A$100,000 to A$2.5 million.
The Program is being run by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW). Find out more here!
Developed in consultation with the farming industry, and supported by external consultancy Metabolic, the Agrisolar Handbook (for Europe) identifies ten agrisolar archetypes and case examples, of how farmers and landowners can benefit from agrisolar projects on their farms. Download the report and let us know how you think its findings should be applied in an Australian context!
Corn grows with solar panels in new study out of Wisconsin
In an innovative study from Purdue University, researchers are examining the potential for corn, a crop previously thought to be shade-intolerant, to coexist with solar panel arrays. This research, highlighted in three recent publications, is pioneering the integration of solar energy in traditional cornfields across the United States