Pasture Voltaics LLC is a solar project development company that co-develops the project with the landowner.
- On cattle pastures. Dual land use, 10-ft above the grazed pasture. The cattle are happier with shade, soil moisture, and better grass production.
- The electricity produced is more valuable because it can be produced closer to the electric demand centers. The combination of dual use and higher value electricity makes the Pasture Voltaic project amplified in value to the electric offtakers (utilities, data centers, large industries looking for long term fixed clean power contracts).
- 1,200 acres of land would support a 200 MW project. Project size is flexible, and determined in collaboration with the rancher.
- Pasture Voltaics LLC targets having at least 1 project in each of the 50 U.S. States.
- The proximity to electric load centers allows the the land to remain in grazing but increase in revenue, adding value to the grid by reducing transmission congestion, line losses and increasing the marketability of the solar electricity.
The first step is to meet
- The rancher has no obligation to lease the property until there is an offer on the table that is acceptable to the rancher.
- The rancher and Pasture Voltaics create a project LLC and layout a 200MW solar project on 1200 acres, then get the county building permit. Pasture Voltaics pays expenses.
- Pasture Voltaics LLC and the ranch split the proceeds. An early phase solar development near the electric load, that doesn't take away ag land, and has a construction permit and interconnection feasibility is a valuable asset to the power producer industry.
- The new developer must follow the terms of the lease and the construction permit, which requires the pasture remain dual use, and the PV equipment be 10-ft above ground.
Saving Land and Generating Power
Pasture Voltaics LLC is a solar development company dedicated to early phase solar PV on land that would otherwise not be economic for conventional solar. The Suntracker technology allows panels to be higher than conventional solar, providing the rancher economic benefits besides the extra revenue, such as shade for cattle, soil moisture retention and better grass production.
Our team truly believes that ranching and pasture voltaics is the answer to many problems, and combined ranching and pasture voltaics will make the biggest impact on CO2 than any other climate solutions. How? - more information here.
Pasture Voltaics LLC is agnostic to the tracking system. However, the managing members are business affiliates of RUTE Suntracker, the only scalable PV tracker that is 10-ft above ground, and doesn't disturb the pasture during construction.
The U.S. Dept of Energy & U.S. taxpayers kindly granted RUTE an SBIR award to help prove the RUTE Suntracker technology.
The pilot job was at Standing Rock Reservation, North Dakota on cattle pasture that is a soil regeneration and community development project.
A single Pasture Voltaic Project consists of:
Ranch provides
- 1200 acres, 1.5miles by 1.5 miles, roughly
- The pasture needs to be near a transmission line - 115 kV or bigger, 230 kV is best
- Rancher or designee joins the project company with 50% rights
Pasture Voltaics provides
- Engineering, geotechnical studies, and development work and County permitting
- Regenerative soil approach and studies
- Interconnection first steps
- Construction plans and cost estimates
- Marketing the electricity
RUTE Suntracker provides an engineered system that allows the pasture to improve grass production, provide optimal shade for the cattle, and provide the rancher dual income. The system includes the following components
- 49 Suntracker Fields. Each Field is 24x24 Suntrackers. Each Suntracker consists of a single Stem (pole), and Blume (rack and panels). 96 PitchPoles outline each Field.
- 28,224 Suntrackers, 3072 PitchPoles with winch housings and cables
- 10-30% less steel than conventional systems
Team
Dave Archambault II
Vanessa Hopkins
F.A.Q
What is Pasture Voltaics?
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What is Pasture Voltaics?
Pasture Voltaics is like Agrivoltaics, Solar Sharing, AgriSolar, etc. This is the dual use of the ag land with PV solar. Except, Pasture Voltaics:
- Allows large grazing livestock on the same land. The structures are designed for large animals to rub on the poles. In fact, it is encouraged with happy cow scratchers
- There is almost zero destruction or disturbance to the pasture and soil. No bulldozing at all.
- Soil regeneration is a key feature. The rancher’s pasture rotation planning, in combination with proper shade and moisture control allows the soil to flourish, and healthier cattle, due to both shade health and more feed.
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How is Pasture Voltaics unique?
Pasture Voltaics does not disturb the ground. There is no flattening or grading of the ranchland. The equipment is 10-ft high at a minimum. The top of the panels is 26 feet tilted at 40-degrees. This means there is over 70% of open sky - a good balance between sun and shade.
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Does the shade reduce pasture growth?
There are a lot of studies on this. Grass is not a high solar consuming plant. Once grass gets the growth sunlight it needs, grass consumes water to stay cool. Suntracker will increase the moisture and production of a pasture in almost all regions. We can do a trial first. We can also cost in irrigation or misters suspended on the cable trellis.
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