Directors

Loren Oki
Department of Plant Sciences
UC Davis

David Fujino
California Center for Urban Horticulture
UC Davis

UCNFA Partners

Directors

Loren Oki
Department of Plant Sciences
UC Davis

David Fujino
California Center for Urban Horticulture
UC Davis

UCNFA Partners

Photovoltaic Applications in Horticulture and Agriculture (UC Davis)

Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center, Alpha Gamma Rho Room
Alumni Lane
University of California
Davis, CA 95616

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Information and Registration

Photovoltaic Applications in Horticulture and Agriculture
Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center, Alpha Gamma Rho Room
University of California, Davis
May 16, 2011 (Monday)
8:00am - 6:00pm

The University of California Nursery and Floriculture Alliance

in partnership with

Overview:

This program explores opportunities related to plant production in the shadow of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels in agriculture and horticulture. Farms, nurseries and ranches represent open space where traditionally all solar energy harvesting has been done with plants. However, in terms of economic biomass produced per solar energy unit, the use of plants alone is relatively inefficient. Significant technological advances in photovoltaics have recently generated strong interest in the use of PV electricity in conjunction with agricultural operations.

Professor Heiner Lieth of the Plant Sciences Department at UC Davis will present the results of his research on plant growth in a shade house constructed with Solyndra solar panels.

Agenda:

Time	Title	Description
8:00am	Registration
8:30am	Introductions
8:45am	Introduction to Photovoltaic Electricity Production	How PV works Components of a typical PV system Various PV Technologies Benefits of PV
9:30am	PV Applications in Agriculture	Overview of PV applications on shade houses and greenhouses and their benefits Development of PV greenhouses in Italy and Europe Challenges and opportunities in California and the US
10:15am	Break
10:30am	Growing Plants Under PV Panels in Horticulture	Overview of greenhouse and nursery production and horticultural crops Introduction to UC Davis/Solyndra shade house research project
11:30am	Lunch and Tour to Shade House	Tour led by Professor Lieth
1:30pm	Horticultural Plant Production Under Solyndra Shade Panels- Research Results	Presentation of research results from UC Davis/Solyndra shade house project Discussion of specific nursery products
2:30pm	Energy Policy and Incentives	California Energy Policy 101 Currently available rebate and incentive programs
3:30pm	Break
3:45pm	Changing the Face of Horticulture and Field-Based Agriculture: New Opportunities for Sustainable Plant Production	The work by Prof. Lieth’s group suggests how the combination of PV and soilless plant production can result in increases in production while reducing agricultural pollution.
4:30pm	Q&A
5:00pm	Networking Reception
6:00pm	Adjourn

Continuing Education units applied for: Certified Crop Advisor (CCA)

Regular Registration: $75 per person
Student Registration: $45 per person (with student ID)

Regular Online Registration (credit cards only)

Student Online Registration (credit cards only)

Mail/Fax Registration (checks and credit cards)

Parking on the UC Davis campus is $6.00 per day (not included in registration)

Lodging Options in Davis

Please contact the UCNFA office at 530-752-8419 (phone/fax) (email:lldodge@ucdavis.edu) if you have special needs or require assistance