Solar-Powered Brownfield Remediation

1. Executive Summary

• Project Name: Solar-Powered Brownfield Remediation and Community Engagement Initiative

• Applicant: Key Tech Labs

• Duration: January 2025 - December 2026

• Funding Request: $120,000 ($60,000 per year)

• Primary Objectives:

  • Remediate contaminated Brownfield land using phytoremediation with sunflowers

  • Deploy a portable solar microgrid to power a solar irrigation system

  • Engage community members in environmental education, renewable energy, and waste management practices

2. Project Goals and Objectives

1. Environmental Remediation

   • Remediate soil on a contaminated Brownfield site using phytoremediation with sunflowers.

   • Highlight the role of sunflowers in removing specific toxins from the soil, especially known contaminants present on the Brownfield site.

   • Monitor and document soil health improvements throughout the project lifecycle.

2. Renewable Energy Integration

   • Deploy a portable solar microgrid to support the solar irrigation system for the sunflower field.

   • Reuse decommissioned solar panels, demonstrating sustainable waste reuse in clean energy production.

3. Community Engagement and Education

   • Provide hands-on educational workshops, community tours, and learning events.

   • Demonstrate the role of solar energy, soil remediation, and phytoremediation in environmental sustainability.

4. Sustainability and Zero-Waste Practices

   • Utilize a zero-waste approach to sunflower byproducts, creating non-edible products from the harvested sunflowers.

3. Key Activities and Milestones

Phase 1: Planning and Preparation (Q1-Q2 2025)

• Site Assessment: Conduct a site assessment and soil analysis on the Brownfield site.

• System Design: Design and procure the solar microgrid, irrigation system, and rainwater collection system.

• Land Preparation: Clear and prepare the site for sunflower planting.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Engage local stakeholders, community members, and partner organizations.

Phase 2: Implementation (Q3-Q4 2025)

• Solar Installation: Install the 3.5 kW ground-mounted solar array, solar battery system, and rainwater collection system.

• Sunflower Planting: Plant sunflowers using the crop circle pattern to maximize soil remediation.

• Community Engagement: Host initial public workshops and community events.

• Monitoring and Data Collection: Begin collecting data on soil health, energy production, and community engagement metrics.

Phase 3: Full Operation and Education (Q1-Q4 2026)

• Ongoing Sunflower Maintenance: Ensure the health and growth of sunflowers using solar-powered irrigation.

• Community Tours and Workshops: Host workshops and site tours focused on phytoremediation, renewable energy, and waste management.

• Harvest and Byproduct Utilization: Harvest sunflowers, process them into non-edible products, and ensure a zero-waste process.

• Data Collection and Reporting: Monitor the performance of the solar system, energy production, and soil health.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Share outcomes with partners, community members, and grant funders.

4. Key Partnerships and Roles

• DC Power Plants: Main solar developer, maintaining and operating the solar system and monitoring system performance and solar generation.

• Black Agriculture Leadership Council: Providing subject matter expertise for land surveys and Brownfield site assessments.

• BioFiber Industries: Supporting the phytoremediation process and assisting with harvesting and processing sunflowers into non-edible products.

• Mother Land Farms: Responsible for monitoring soil, weather, sunlight exposure, water levels, and the pH of water and soil. Mother Land Farms will capture and report all these data points back to Key Tech Labs.

• Crop Circle Farms: Managing the process of growing sunflowers for soil remediation.

• Electra: Identifying and procuring decommissioned solar panels.

• Revolve Solar: Supporting the installation of the solar panels.

• PowerOn: Installing the solar battery system for the solar microgrid.

• JustCreate: We will focus on creating marketing and educational materials for the project.

5. Community Engagement Plan

• Community Outreach: Host public tours, workshops, and informational sessions on soil remediation and renewable energy.

• Education Program: Offer educational workshops for students, community members, and local stakeholders.

• Public Engagement: Provide interactive learning experiences at community events, such as farmers' markets and environmental fairs.

• Feedback Mechanism: Collect community feedback on the impact of the project and incorporate suggestions for improvement.

 Risk Assessment and Mitigation

• Risk 1: Crop Failure

  • Mitigation: Diversify planting methods, maintain proper irrigation, and monitor plant health.

• Risk 2: Equipment Failure

  • Mitigation: Develop a maintenance plan with DC Power Plants and PowerOn to provide technical support and quick repairs.

• Risk 3: Delays in Solar Panel Procurement

  • Mitigation: Work with Electra to secure decommissioned solar panels in advance and maintain backup supply options.

• Risk 4: Community Engagement Challenges

  • Mitigation: Launch proactive outreach and information-sharing campaigns to raise community awareness and participation.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Performance Metrics:

  • Amount of solar energy generated (kWh)

  • Number of visitors attending tours and workshops

  • Volume of rainwater collected and used

  • Quantity of sunflower byproducts harvested and repurposed

  • Soil health improvements over time

• Evaluation Tools:

  • Soil tests and analysis conducted by Mother Land Farms

  • Solar system performance tracking

  • Workshop participant surveys

  • Harvest yield tracking

Sustainability and Long-term Impact

• Zero-Waste Approach: Ensure that all harvested sunflower byproducts are converted into non-edible products, ensuring no waste.

• Portable Solar Microgrid: The microgrid can be redeployed at other Brownfield sites or community events to continue community education.

• Community Knowledge Transfer: Train community members and partners in soil remediation and renewable energy practices for sustained engagement.

Lasting Partnerships: Continue collaborations with community organizations and technical partners to expand the scope of future projects 

This project plan outlines the strategy for Key Tech Labs’ Solar-Powered Brownfield Remediation and Community Engagement Initiative. The plan emphasizes soil remediation, renewable energy integration, community engagement, and waste reduction. The plan includes clear activities, milestones, budget allocation, and sustainability strategies to ensure long-term impact and alignment with the Public Participation Grant (PPG) 2025-2027.