What if a solar farm could operate as a real cattle agribusiness? Loran Shallenberger, Silicon Ranch's Vice President of Regenerative Energy and Agrivoltaics joins Nick de Vries to explore the launch of Cattle Tracker, Silicon Ranch's patented platform designed to to integrate commercially viable cattle operations within utility-scale solar projects. We examine what it truly takes to build an AgriPV business that works economically for producers, operationally for solar, and sustainably for the land, covering everything from rotational grazing and forage quality to infrastructure design, animal behavior, and land stewardship. It's a behind-the-scenes look at how Silicon Ranch is rethinking what energy infrastructure can be — from sheep grazing to cattle operations at scale — and why the future of solar may depend as much on agriculture as electricity generation.

Rob Andrews, founder of Heliolytics and Engramiq, joins host Nick de Vries to explore how advanced data analytics and AI are reshaping solar development and operations. From using drones and thermography to detect faulty modules at scale to building "data-complete" digital models from project documents, Andrews explains how better data organization enables more reliable, trustworthy AI. Dives into the rise of AI agents, the importance of grounding them in real-world context, and what it will take to scale solar from hundreds to thousands of projects — without scaling complexity alongside it.

In the season‑opening episode of Silicon Ranch Radio for 2026, host Nick de Vries sits down with Ann Will, founder and CEO of Groundwork Renewables, to explore why certainty is the cornerstone of building a durable solar business. From resource assessment and PV soiling to hail resilience and module testing, Ann shares how high‑quality, trusted data enables confident decisions across development, operations, financing, and insurance. The conversation traces Groundwork's role in shaping utility‑scale solar from its earliest days and examines how rigor, consistency, and trust turn risk into long‑term value. For anyone focused on building resilient, high‑performing solar assets, this episode makes the case that certainty isn't optional — it's essential.