CAREY, Ohio — Growing grass to make biofuels. Producing bioenergy through anaerobic digestion of manure and plant matter. Capturing the sun’s energy to power the farm.

These are just three of many key topics to be covered at the 2015 Renewable Energy Workshop at Vaughn Industries in Carey, on Nov. 4.

"It’s for anyone interested in renewable energy, such as farmers, homeowners, small business owners, financial and insurance companies, researchers and students and state and local agency personnel," said Yebo Li, the event’s organizer and a biosystems engineer at The Ohio State University.

The event is sponsored by the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at OSU. The one-day event will run from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Vaughn Industries, 1201 E. Findlay Street in Carey.

"Speaking will be renewable energy experts from the college and industry and will include topics on solar energy, funding possibilities and others," Li said.

Vaughn Industries, the host, operates a 50-kilowatt solar energy system and attendees will tour the facility. This specialty contracting company has installed systems ranging from 1-15 megawatts at sites from Ohio to North Carolina.

Representatives from PSEG Solar, which boasts the largest solar farm in Ohio, will be there to field questions. This 83-acre farm spans an area equal to 80 football fields. It has nearly 160,000 solar panels on more than 3,000 fixed-tilt solar arrays.

"This 12-megawatt farm produces enough electricity for more than 9,000 homes when the sun is shining," Li said.

Eric Romich, an energy development field specialist, will discuss current trends and opportunities in renewable energy, while Rafiq Islam, a soil and bioenergy program leader at OSU, will talk about growing perennial grass for biofuel.

Alex Ringler, CEO of Renergy, Inc., will talk about anaerobic digestion of livestock manure and its opportunities and challenges.

Brian Tschanen and Drew Roach, both of Vaughn Industries, will speak about trends in solar energy, and Li will address opportunities and challenges when dealing with anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic (woody cellulose) feedstocks.

"The tours and experts will give a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges for renewable energy options in Ohio for farmers and other business owners," Li said.

Transportation to the workshop site and the PSEG farm will be by the participants’ own vehicles or by a free van pool ride leaving at 7 a.m. from Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) in Wooster.

The registration fee is $50 and attendees can register the day of the event.

For more information, contact Mary Wicks at wicks.14@osu.edu or 330-202-3533, or go to www.go.osu.edu/2015REW