New York to award USD 5m for demo agrivoltaic projects

New York will disburse USD 5 million (EUR 4.62m) in funding to back the development of projects demonstrating how solar power generation and agricultural activities can be combined at the same site.

The funds will be allocated through competitive bidding. They will be made available to support the US state’s goal to achieve a 40% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and make its electricity sector zero-emission by 2040, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) said on Friday.

Researchers, solar developers, farmers, non-profit organisations, and local governments will be able to receive financing to showcase the co-location of photovoltaic (PV) panels on land used for agriculture, known as agrivoltaic technology. Proposals for both new or retrofitted PV plants are eligible to participate. Each winning scheme will be allocated up to USD 750,000 in state funding.

NYSERDA will accept proposals by September 12, 2024. Data related to the costs and benefits of the successful projects will be shared with farmers, solar developers and other stakeholders so that the model could be replicated 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.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.925)

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