Agrivoltaics Set to Take Center Stage as a Viable Tool in New York
By Jie Ying, ACE NY Intern
With solar power development on agricultural lands expected to continue, agrivoltaics has emerged as a key strategy to minimize potential impacts on farmland while preserving its productivity. New projects are on the verge of breaking ground and technological advancements are on the horizon. Below is a roundup of recent articles about agrivoltaics.
Support for Agrivoltaics Crosses the Political Aisle
Agrivoltaics is gaining bipartisan support in the US. Earlier this year, Senators Martin Heinrich (a Democrat from New Mexico) and Mike Braun (a Republican from Indiana) introduced the Agrivoltaics Research and Demonstration Act of 2023. The bill, with a budget of $15 million annually from 2024 to 2028, aims to delve into the economic benefits of co-locating solar panels on farmland. It also leverages existing USDA resources like Climate Hubs and extension programs, including Sustainably Co-locating Agricultural and Photovoltaic Electricity Systems (SCAPES) agrivoltaic project.
BlueWave Gains $91 Million to Support Agrivoltaic Solar Development
BlueWave, a member of ACE NY, has received $91 million in financing to expand its solar development portfolio which includes five agrivoltaic projects in Massachusetts. The financing comprises a $64 million debt raise from KeyBank and a $27 million tax equity raise from U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance, with support from parent company Axium Infrastructure and trusted partners. BlueWave has partnered with the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program for these projects, aiming to provide solar energy and cost savings to 770 low-income households.
These innovative projects seek to combine agriculture and solar energy generation, offering advantages such as land-use efficiency and income diversification for farmers. They will enable uninterrupted farming beneath the solar panels, fostering crop growth, pollinator habitats, and livestock grazing. BlueWave's initiative represents a forward-thinking approach to sustainable land use and renewable energy generation, addressing both environmental and economic considerations (or addressing land-use conflicts and offers solutions to extreme weather impacts on crops while reducing emissions).
Lightstar Begins Construction of First-of-its-Kind Agrivoltaics Project in NY
Lightstar Renewables is set to break ground on the first-of-its-kind agrivoltaics project in New York State. Located in Wappingers Falls, Poughkeepsie, Lightstar's Old Myers facility is a 2 MW dual-use community solar project that spans a 15-acre site. The project will help to keep the Thompson family’s land in agricultural production as well as generating stable lease income over 25 years. The project will begin construction during Autumn 2023 and is expected to reach completion by Summer 2024. The Old Myers project will harvest strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, and lavender, among other produce, resulting in active market produce production for this agrivoltaics project. Lightstar plans to work with local institutions to study the produce grown and detail the financial and agricultural case studies that will be disseminated widely. The project will enhance food security for the local community while generating solar energy to make the local grid cleaner and more reliable. Furthermore, the project’s electricity will be used across the crop-growing cycle to achieve carbon neutrality on the farm.
Agrivoltaics To Save US Farmland From Buildings
https://cleantechnica.com/2023/08/28/agrivoltaics-to-save-us-farmland-from-buildings/
The use of solar arrays on farmland has sparked a debate about land use conflicts between solar development and agriculture. Research from the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture suggests that solar development in the state only covers a small fraction of farmland, though it may expand due to a 10-gigawatt solar plan recently announced by the Tennessee Valley Authority. Nevertheless, solar development will continue to be a relatively small factor in the loss of farmland compared to urban and suburban development.
Agrivoltaic practices, involving the dual use of farmland with solar arrays, coupled with regenerative agriculture, are seen as a way to mitigate this impact and improve ecosystem services. The US Department of Agriculture and the Energy Department are supportive of agrivoltaics, with legislative proposals and funding incentives contributing to its growth. Despite opposition from some groups, agrivoltaics presents a promising approach to address farmland loss while promoting sustainable agriculture and renewable energy.
UDel Project to Demonstrate the Potential Benefits of Agrivoltaics
The University of Delaware (UDel) is partnering with SolAgra Corporation to build two agrivoltaic solar arraysat its campuses in Delaware, aiming to explore the integration of solar power and crop production. These arrays are expected to be operational in 2024 and will focus on growing high-value vegetables and fruits susceptible to adverse climate conditions. The project's goal is to demonstrate the potential benefits of combining solar energy and agriculture, possibly paving the way for large-scale dual-use PV installations on farmland.
Researchers from UDel's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, College of Engineering, and Institute of Energy Conversion will collect data using dynamic sun-tracking PV arrays. SolAgra Corporation specializes in agrivoltaics with its patented SolAgra Farming™ technology, which improves crop quality and generates green energy. Unlike static systems, it offers precise control of sunlight and shade, optimizing crop yields and solar power output. The project also involves collaboration with Casper, Phillips & Associates (CP&A) to provide engineering expertise for this innovative endeavor, which may extend to similar projects in California.
