Department of Energy's InSPIRE Program

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) InSPIRE project aims to demonstrate opportunities for cost reductions and environmental compatibility of solar energy technologies through low environmental impact designs and approaches.

To achieve the project's aim, DOE brings together researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, universities, local governments, environmental groups, and industry partners.

The InSPIRE project combines innovative computational studies with field-based research to provide fundamental data to landowners, the solar industry, and state decision-makers. The InSPIRE team utilizes consistent, peer-reviewed methods across all research field plots to ensure consistency and comparability. Specifically, the InSPIRE team analyzes:

• Native vegetation growth underneath and around ground-mounted solar installations
• Agricultural crop performance under innovative solar configurations
• Impacts of low-impact solar development approaches on soil quality, carbon storage, stormwater management, microclimate conditions, and solar efficiencies
• Benefits of pollinator-friendly solar on local agricultural yields

For more information about the InSPIRE project and research, see the project website.