NYSERDA Announces $5 Million for Agrivoltaic Demonstration Projects

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) collaboratively developed a $5 million competitive solicitation for agrivoltaic project proposals, with funding from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Eligible projects would integrate new or retrofitted solar installations with farming operations like cattle grazing, forage, or specialty crop production. Each project can receive up to $750,000 in funding. Eligible applicants include researchers, solar developers, farmers, non-profits, and local governments. Proposals must include a solar site design, marketable agricultural commodity, and estimates of expected agricultural production and solar generation. Applications will be accepted until 3:00 p.m. ET on September 12, 2024.

This initiative accompanies NYSERDA's Agriculture Energy Audit Program, which supports New York State's farmers in managing their energy use through no-cost technical assistance. NYSERDA supports applied research on co-utilizing land for renewable energy generation and agricultural production, aligning with findings and recommendations from New York's Climate Action Council and the New York State Farmland Protection Working Group, that larger ground-mounted solar projects are expected to play a crucial role in meeting the state's future energy and emissions reduction needs. A press release can be found here.