Sharing knowledge and charting the path for the future of solar – Lightsource bp Q2 2024 events wrap up

Lightsource bp’s teams have been on the road throughout the second quarter of 2024, with a number of opportunities to share our expertise, engage with local stakeholders and celebrate some of our own milestones along the way.

Shaping the agenda at the Agrivoltaics World Conference

Our team in the US took centre stage at several key industry conferences during Q2, with eight subject matter experts presenting on a wide range of topics including DEIJ, community acceptance, policy, technical modelling and weather resilience. The important topic of agrivoltaics was also at the forefront of discussions. One event of note was the Agrivoltaics World Conference in Denver, Colorado, where Lexie Hain, Director of Agrivoltaics and Land Management for Lightsource bp in the US, sat on the conference’s scientific committee. Lexie, who is also a farmer and solar grazier in her own right, chaired two panels during the three-day event, and also offered remarks during the awards ceremony for the agrivoltaics student design competition, which Lightsource bp sponsored.

“Integrating solar with agriculture is not simple. It is a big lift. Years of planning and coordination between and within agricultural entities and solar operators are needed for successful agrivoltaics during operation,” Lexie reinforced to delegates at the conference.

You can read more about the event and view some of the research outputs here.

Agrivoltaics workshop held in partnership with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy

Sticking with agrivoltaics, Lightsource bp and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy hosted a technical workshop on the subject at Lightsource bp’s Madrid hub. Over 30 engineering and technical team members gathered to share knowledge, explore new approaches, and discuss best practices for integrating agriculture with solar operations. The workshop aimed to enhance understanding of diverse agricultural contexts and improve project outcomes for farmers while meeting sustainable energy demands.

Learn more about the workshop here.

Supporting the rural economy through Badminton Horse Trials sponsorship

In the UK, Lightsource bp continued its sponsorship of the Badminton Horse Trials for the third year, reinforcing its commitment to rural economies. This prestigious equestrian event in South Gloucestershire, England, aligns with the company’s mission to develop solar projects that complement agricultural activities. By participating in such high-profile rural events, the company aims to strengthen relationships with stakeholders and promote the integration of renewable energy in agricultural settings. Lightsource bp is proud to demonstrate the value that renewable energy investment can have across rural communities. The sponsorship allows Lightsource bp to showcase how solar energy can benefit landowners and rural businesses, while engaging with local communities.

New Lightsource bp office opens in Poland

Lightsource bp has opened a new office in the centre of Warsaw to support the company’ s growing team and expanding portfolio in Poland. 

The team moved into their new 330m2 office space in the spring, with Nick Boyle and Kareen Boutonnat visiting shortly after to mark the official opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

“Over the past four years, since Lightsource bp started operating in Poland, our team has built a portfolio of solar projects with a total capacity of over 3.2GW. We are still developing our projects, our team is growing, which is why it is so important that we have our own office space in the centre of Warsaw,” said Michał Głowacki, Head of Country, Lightsource bp Poland.