Karin Stark & Andrew Bomm– Exploring Agrivoltaics

In this episode, Wendy Agar sits down with Karin Stark – farmer, renewable energy advocate, and founder of the Renewables in Agriculture Conference – and Andrew Bomm – advisor and land management expert with hands-on experience in shared solar grazing – to explore how agriculture and solar can not only coexist but thrive together.

Drawing on their deep experience across farming, energy policy, and land management, as well as insights from co-authoring the groundbreaking Pursuing an Agrivoltaics Future report, Karin and Andrew share what they’ve learned about the real opportunities — and challenges — of agrivoltaics in the Australian context.

Together, they unpack:

• What agrivoltaics really is (and how it works)
  
  
• How dual land use can support farmers, build trust, and reduce conflict around large-scale solar
  
  
• Environmental and land management impacts — from food security to fire risk
  
  
• Key barriers to adoption in Australia, and how to overcome them
  
  

Whether you work in engagement, energy, agriculture — or you're just curious about the future of land use in regional Australia — this episode offers practical insights, policy perspectives, and real-world examples to help you stay informed and inspired.

emPOWER is proudly supported by The Energy Charter, a CEO-led collaboration across the Australian energy sector committed to delivering better outcomes for customers and communities in the energy transition.

Produced by The Podcast Boss