Okovate Sustainable Energy

The Okovate team had the pleasure of visiting Rutgers University Agrivoltaics Program animal farm site! ?????? Savannah Whitfield, Okovate co-founder, and Kiana Michaan learned about the agrivoltaics research on animal grazing and forage production happening at the site which features vertical bifacial solar panels. The Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program is conducting key research supporting resilient and sustainable co-located food & energy production as part of New Jersey’s Dual-Use Solar Pilot Program. Thank you to Isabelle Graj for joining us and sharing the passion for agrivoltaics. Huge thank you to David Specca and Shawn Sorrels for the warm welcome and for their important agrivoltaics research! And thank to you A.J. Both and Dena Seidel #agrivoltaics #solar #cleanenergy #agriculture #renewableenergy #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativefarming

I’ve always been drawn to the paths less traveled. Starting with environmental sciences and a passion for agriculture, my journey took me from the Dutch countryside to international development and, finally, renewable energy. But how could I fit all these interests into one career? Enter agrivoltaics (farming + solar): With the help of Miles Q. Braxton and Savannah Whitfield, I found the perfect role where I can combine all my passions to make an impact in agriculture and clean energy. I’m very excited to share two milestones: I graduated from The Yale School of the Environment, and I’m now Chief Agriculture Officer at Okovate Sustainable Energy. ?????? ???????????????????????? ??????????????: The USDA’s 2022 Census reports a loss of over 140k farms and 20 million acres of U.S. farmland in five years. Rising costs, extreme weather, and labor shortages are closing farms. Agrivoltaics can protect farmland, sustain communities, and cut CO2 emissions—offering a lifeline to farmers by integrating food and energy production. ? ???????? ????. ????????????: Conventional solar reduces CO2 but removes land from food production, eventually leading to land clearing elsewhere to meet demand. Agrivoltaics integrates both food and energy production. ? ???????????????? ??????????????????: Solar leases can reach $2,000/acre, while farmers earn just $50-$300/acre from crops like corn and soy– this discourages farming. Agrivoltaics leases incentivize farmers to stay on the land. ? ???????????? ?????? ??????????????: Agrivoltaics creates new revenue streams, helping farmers compete, support local food networks, and conserve water through solar shading. ? ???????? ????????????: Conventional solar can degrade soils, harm microbes, and reduce organic matter by up to 60%. Agrivoltaics creates microclimates that protect soil and crops while generating clean energy. The future of agriculture and renewable energy is intertwined, and I’m proud and excited to be driving sustainable change with Okovate Sustainable Energy. ??

Are you looking for an organization that is actually empowering the under represented? Do you want to support a company that is thinking long term solutions via growing opportunities for all types of farmers? I suggest you connect with Okovate Sustainable Energy. This crew is doing some amazing stuff and I really enjoy our conversations. They step up where others fail. Check them out. I had to borrow this picture of Miles Q. Braxton. He is a phenomenal leader. #agrivoltaics #solarfarm #opportunityknocks

Okovate is at Climate Week NYC! Co-founder Miles Q. Braxton spoke on an amazing panel on Climate Resilience through Agriculture along side Ethan Winter, Jesse Robertson-DuBois, and Danielle Nierenberg. Miles shared how Okovate's work puts farmers first and the benefits of agrivoltaics to rural and BIPOC communities. Thank you to Food Tank and American Farmland Trust for hosting this important discussion on the future of agrivoltaics! Check out the video of the panel at the link below to hear more https://lnkd.in/egBNhTj8

Had the awesome opportunity to visit Joe Czajkowsi’s Farm in Hadley (Amherst), MA this week with our CAO, Jorrit. The agrivoltaic system was developed by Jake Marley and Hyperion Systems to work in harmony with Joe’s crop farming practices. Hyperion developed on some of Joe’s least productive soil and turned it into a regenerative ag project through the power of Agrivoltaics. Through residual solar lease revenue, Joe was able to reinvest in the farm and apply organic matter this year to enrich the soil at the site, while looking to diversify the crop rotation. Amazing insights from Farmer Chivito (far left) on the brocolli being greener in the shaded environment versus the full sun control. All the machinery used before the APV installation can still be used between rows of the array. Chivito says the cultivators prefer farming in the shade. #FutureofSolar #Agrivoltaics #SmarterSolar #RegenerativeAg

The Okovate team had a great time at RE+ last week, sharing our?experience developing crop-integrated?agrivoltaics. Okovate co-founder Miles Q. Braxton spoke on a panel with Austin Kinzer of American Farmland Trust sharing Okovate's vision for the future of APV development and policy in the US. Thank you again to the American Solar Grazing Association (ASGA) for bringing programming and of course friendly sheep to increase of awareness of agrivoltaics. So much energy and excitement around the future of agrivoltaics! Thank you to our RE+ community, with special shout outs to Fundusol, LLC., Encore Renewable Energy, Marcus Gray, CWB? Gray,?Lexie Hain, and?Tekoah Kadara. #REplus24 RE+ Events

Watermelon harvesteing, literally tons of them from the six acres monsoon plantation between the solar solar arrays at Gro Solar Energy plant. The Solar plant drainage system kept the melon vines safer during the heavy monsoon this year. After battling with the watermelon traders' cartels we may make decent returns. The melon vines which moved below panels have dark green watermelons with good texture and beautiful to look at and, of course, very sweet and juicy

At Okovate, we know that the future of solar is agrivolatics. Join us and the American Farmland Trust tomorrow 9/12 at 9:30am for a panel on Cultivating Agrivoltaics: The Present & Future of AgPV Projects and Policy. Huge shout out to our partners at Fundusol, LLC. for sharing the Marriott booth at MM1115 (come learn more about APV!) and Chad Farrell of Encore Renewable Energy for shouting us out in his session of agrivoltaic practices. They are doing amazing work in the space and thinking about dual land-use the right way. #REPlus24

At Okovate, we know that the future of solar is agrivolatics. Join us and the American Farmland Trust tomorrow 9/12 at 9:30am for a panel on Cultivating Agrivoltaics: The Present & Future of AgPV Projects and Policy. Huge shout out to our partners at Fundusol, LLC. for sharing the Marriott booth at MM1115 (come learn more about APV!) and Chad Farrell of Encore Renewable Energy for shouting us out in his session of agrivoltaic practices. They are doing amazing work in the space and thinking about dual land-use the right way. #REPlus24

Agrivoltaics is a proven technology that has been successfully implemented in over 14 GW of projects across the globe.?Solar on farmland is efficient, reliable, and beneficial thanks to decades of research, resulting in clear best practices for agrivoltaics deployment. Farmland and solar can truly thrive together! Interested in agrivoltaics on your farmland or APV consulting for your solar projects? Schedule a meeting with an Okovate expert:?https://lnkd.in/dhtscA4d #agrivoltaics #solar #solarenergy #cleanenergy #renewables #agriculture