Thinking like a farmer in Ohio
Savion integrates agrivoltaics - a combination of solar power and agriculture into its 180-megawatt solar facility
Sarah Moser was a farmer long before she worked for Savion, LLC, one of America’s largest, and utility-scale solar and energy storage project development companies.
After going to college and serving in the U.S. Air Force, Moser returned to work on the farm her grandfather established in Madison County, Ohio, in 1959. Now, she also serves as Director of Farming Operations and Agrivoltaics at Savion, a wholly owned subsidiary of Shell.
Where solar and farming meet
Moser was pivotal in integrating farming with Savion’s Madison Fields Solar Project, which is impressive in its own right: The 180-megawatt (MW) solar facility is expected to produce enough low carbon energy to power approximately 38,000 homes annually over the next 35-40 years.
But what makes it unique is that it is Savion’s first project to integrate agrivoltaics – or a combination of solar power and agriculture. This practice provides a way for the installation of utility-scale solar sites to become the foundation of dual-use land opportunities, allowing utilization of more of the site's land.
In July 2024, Savion began commercial operation of Madison Fields Solar Project in Madison County, Ohio. InfraRed Capital Partners and Savion jointly own the project, and Shell serves as the project’s asset manager.
Farmer first mentality
The Savion team, with the help of leaders like Moser, embraced the mantra to “think like farmers” in being resourceful land stewards. From site acquisition to project operations, the principles of farming and the potential to harness clean energy intersect, generating this opportunity for further land use.
“I’m farmer first,” Moser said. “So, it’s rewarding to be involved with a project of this scale that can enhance biodiversity, improve soil health, and provide low carbon energy.”
To get to the core of fully integrating farming with the project, Savion established Between the Rows, LLC, a collaboration with The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, to determine the best practices to cultivate crops in conjunction with utility-scale solar production. The collaboration was awarded the Department of Energy’s Foundational Agrivoltaic Research for Megawatt Scale grant.
“We all use energy, and we need more of it,” said Glenn Wright, Senior Vice President of Shell Energy Americas. “Society faces a complex challenge — moving to a low-carbon energy future while simultaneously meeting the ever-increasing energy demand of the world. This site shows Shell is committed to providing renewable energy for our customers.”
The harvest
Agricultural production began in the Spring of 2023 at the Madison Fields Project, with 45 acres of wheat and soybeans planted inside the fence, and an 80-acre soybean harvest later that year. The ground was conditioned to seed alfalfa, cool season hay mix, a variety of cover crops, and soybeans in May of 2024. Corn and soybeans were also planted on approximately 125 acres inside the fence in May and June. Under this model, the farmer invests in the start-up of the harvest, including seeding and fertilizer, and keep the revenue the harvest generates.
The Savion team also planted 25 acres of native seed and pollinator habitat, and the rest of the entire site has been seeded with a mix suitable for hay and grazing.
The project's goal is have the site dedicated to agriculture within five years.
