Solar Energy Hub, LLC
Columbia, Missouri | Phase A in planning

Solar trees, shade and switchgrass on a Missouri research farm.

Solar Energy Hub, LLC is planning a solar and agrivoltaic research campus on a university research farm near an existing broadcast tower: solar trees that could help power the tower, shade for cattle and other animals, battery backup and switchgrass fuels research.

Request investor information See the campus How to fund it
Original concept drawing, not to scale.
Solar trees40 to 50 kW each, number set by the tower's load and the research design
Power for the towera proposal to offset some of its use. Load not yet measured
Shade for animalscattle and other animals, with heat-stress research
No debtBudget is being re-costed. Nothing raised yet

What we plan to build

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Original concept drawing, not to scale. It shows the idea only. Nothing is designed, surveyed or filed.

  1. 1

    Solar trees

    Solar trees of 40 to 50 kW each, standing in pasture. Each one makes power and casts shade. How many we build depends on the tower's load, which we have not measured, and on the research design.

  2. 2

    Shade and research

    Cattle and other animals stand in the shade, so researchers can study heat stress. Switchgrass for biogas and ethanol research share the same acres.

  3. 3

    Battery storage

    Storage for off-grid backup of critical loads. It is sized after a load study.

  4. 4

    Power link to the tower

    A proposed private line to help offset the power the tower uses. There is no agreement with the tower's owner, no load study and nothing filed.

  5. 5

    Grid tie-in

    A proposed connection to the existing overhead lines. We understand they belong to the local electric utility. No application has been filed.

Solar trees in numbers

40 to 50 kW eachOur planning size per tree, to be confirmed with quotes.
Planning estimatesEnergy output is an assumption until on-site data exist.
Shade for animalsCanopies keep pasture animals cooler, and researchers can study heat stress.
Power for the towerA proposal only. The tower's load is not yet measured and there is no agreement.
Planning estimates, not measurements. Output figures are assumptions until on-site data exist. The plan counts no federal tax credits. Wind is not part of Phase A.

The solar tree idea

The solar tree is the building block: a tall structure over pasture that makes power and shades animals on the same acre. Everything here is a concept to be tested with a university research partner and engineers. Nothing is designed or built, and further technical details will be shared with partners under a confidentiality agreement.

Power

Solar power from each tree, sized later with quotes and a load study.

Shade and research

Shade for cattle and other animals so researchers can measure heat stress, while switchgrass and other crops grow nearby.

Measured results

A first research phase to measure animal comfort, grass growth, power output and cost, and to publish what we learn.

Crop and materials research on the same land

Side-by-side plots of switchgrass and other crops, each with and without tree shade, designed with university researchers. Yields for Missouri are not yet proven.

The site and the grid

Parts of the site

  1. 1
    Phase A candidate zone: University pasture near an existing broadcast tower site, for solar trees, battery storage and switchgrass plots
  2. 2
    Power link to the tower: a possible private line. Route unstudied
  3. 3
    Electrical facility and line, owner to be confirmed: possible grid tie-in
  4. 4
    Existing broadcast tower on US 63: proposed power-offset customer. No agreement
  5. 5
    The host university farm. A site map will be added once the layout is studied

The land

A university research farm, 250 to 300 acres, discussed verbally and not yet in writing. The solar trees are meant to stand over working pasture, so farming and research continue beneath them.

Power for the tower Proposal only

We would like to help offset the power the tower uses. We have not measured its load and have no agreement with its owner. Storage could keep a critical load running off-grid.

Wind, later

Wind is not in Phase A. It may return as a later option once on-site data exist. Measured tall-tower wind data for Columbia exist: Forecasting Wind Speeds at Tall Tower Heights Within Missouri, University of Missouri doctoral dissertation, 2022. Those instruments sit at 68 m and higher, above short-turbine heights.

Three phases

Phase A | in planning

Pilot campus

Solar trees, shade for animals, battery storage, a proposed power link to the tower and switchgrass research. Budget is being re-costed. No debt.

Phase B | later

Build-out

More solar trees and research partners if Phase A works. Not planned in detail and not costed.

Phase C | Vision

A larger research hub

A bigger energy and research hub. Partners and fuel are undefined. It is not costed and not part of the current raise.

How Phase A can be funded

Phase A uses no debt. We are re-costing the budget after a change of plan, and we will publish a figure once quotes arrive. Nothing has been raised yet, and every figure on this page is a plan, not a commitment.

Where the money could come from

  • Grants. Federal, state, university and foundation programs for agrivoltaics, solar and bioenergy research. None awarded yet.
  • Partner in-kind. Equipment and services from solar, storage and technology partners. Terms are unsigned.
  • Equity. Investors and strategic partners.

Later stages wait on a gate: a signed site agreement, a measured tower load, an interconnection study and the first grant awards.

What the money would buy

  • Solar trees, foundations and installation
  • Battery storage and backup, to be sized
  • A power link to the tower and a grid tie-in, if agreed
  • Switchgrass and fuels research plots
  • Measurement, permits, legal and an operating reserve

Dollar amounts will be added once quotes and the tower's load study are in.

Three ways to take part

Grant programs and universities

Fund or co-apply for research on agrivoltaics, solar trees, cattle heat stress and switchgrass fuels at a university research farm.

Talk about a grant

Equipment and technology partners

Supply solar trees, storage or power equipment and services as in-kind support. Terms would be negotiated and signed.

Talk about equipment

Investors

Help fund the equity share. Investor materials are shared on request, one conversation at a time.

Request investor information
Nothing on this page is an offer to sell securities. We also welcome advisors and grant writers: write to info@solarenergyhubllc.com.

What is real today

In hand

  • Verbal offer of 250 to 300 acres at a university research farm
  • Applications in to Greentown Labs and Columbia REDI Hub

Still to sign

  • Written site agreement with the University
  • Utility interconnection application and study
  • Agreement with the tower's owner on power, and a measured tower load
  • Terms with storage and solar partners
  • First grant awards

Team and advisors

Andrew Fraser, Founder

Research and operations background in hydrogen and alternative fuels:

  • Volunteer Research Assistant, Missouri S&T, Rolla (2009 to 2011): EcoCAR Challenge, hydrogen fuel-cell and plug-in hybrid research
  • Laboratory Assistant, Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri (2012 to 2013)
  • Assembler (part-time), Central Missouri Subcontracting Enterprises, 2001 to present
  • Student member, International Association for Hydrogen Energy (2010 to 2011)

Advisors

Advisors will be named here once they have agreed in writing. We welcome agrivoltaics, wind, grant-writing and finance advisors.

Hiring with the first round: a project developer or solar engineer, a finance lead and a research coordinator.

Talk to us

Andrew Fraser, Founder
info@solarenergyhubllc.com | 573-864-8857
Columbia, Missouri

We are looking for research partners, equipment partners, grant-writing help and early investors. Email us to request the investor deck and business plan.