Dual Title Holders in the 2025 IECRM Summit Awards
As the first quarter of the new year comes to a close, our competitive spirit at Sandbox Solar has already made an appearance. In the spirit of starting strong, Sandbox Solar entered our CSU ARDEC South Vertical Bifacial Agrivoltaics Testing Grounds project into the 2025 Independent Electrical Contractors Rocky Mountain (IECRM) Summit Awards.
What is the Agrivoltaics Testing Ground?
Our agrivoltaic testing grounds is a unique collaboration between Sandbox Solar, Colorado State University, and other partners. This future-ready infrastructure explores the integration of solar energy and agriculture through various photovoltaic arrays. The goal is to study the effects on soil moisture, crop yield, and energy production in order to advance sustainable farming practices and agrivoltaic technologies.
Phase one involved installing bifacial solar panels to study their impact on both energy production and the surrounding crops. Bifacial panels offer key advantages such as lower maintenance requirements and minimal surface area usage—ideal for agricultural environments. Since these panels can’t be directed toward the sun, their advanced design instead allows them to capture sunlight from both sides, enabling peak performance.
Phase two: With the support of the ISDA SBIR grant, we were able to install nine agrivoltaic arrays with differing configurations. The purpose of these arrays is to test various crop types under different levels of solar panel transparency, helping us better understand potential crop yields and growing conditions.
System Production
| Month | Year | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|
| 765kWh | 4,285kWh | 72,940kWh |
Excellence in Energy Construction
On April 10th, 2025, our CEO Ian Skor, accompanied by our leadership team, made the trip to the Mile High Center in Denver, Colorado to proudly accept the award for “Excellence in Energy Construction” in the category of “Energy Efficiency – Solar.”
We’re honored that the IEC gave us the opportunity to showcase the high-tier electrical work that goes into the solar industry and highlight how intricate and impactful these projects continue to be.
With every victory comes new opportunities to grow. Our ME & Electrical Manager, Dan Frey, took the initiative to bring his apprentices to the event, giving them the chance to mingle and learn from other masters of the craft.
Two Is Better Than One!
As the night came to a close, one final announcement took us by surprise. In addition to winning the “Excellence in Energy Construction” award, we were thrilled to hear that we had also earned the “Highest Peak Award” for “Achieving the Highest Merit in Energy Construction.”
Our Agrivoltaics Testing Grounds project received the highest number of judges’ votes out of all the entries at the event.
We’re incredibly grateful to the IEC for putting on such a fantastic event, to our partners and team for making it all possible, and of course to our amazing customers who keep us inspired every day!
