New York State will disburse $5 million in funding to support projects that demonstrate the combination of solar power generation and agricultural activities at the same site, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced on Friday.
The funds, allocated through competitive bidding, will contribute to New York's goal of achieving a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and making its electricity sector zero-emission by 2040. Researchers, solar developers, farmers, non-profit organizations, and local governments can apply for financing to showcase agrivoltaic technology, which involves co-locating photovoltaic (PV) panels on agricultural land.
Eligible proposals can include both new and retrofitted PV plants. Each selected project will receive up to $750,000 in state funding. NYSERDA will accept proposals until September 12, 2024. Data on the costs and benefits of the successful projects will be shared with farmers, solar developers, and other stakeholders to encourage replication across the state.
“This initiative will help move us forward, finding the right balance of meeting our renewable energy goals while demonstrating what types of co-location will succeed,” said New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball.
