SolarEdge Technologies has revealed that its technology has been selected by Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, for a research and demonstration program to explore the potential of dual-use agrivoltaics for farmers across the state.
Rutgers research will assist the three-year, 200 MW dual-use solar energy pilot program to be administered by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU).
The program includes three sites, each using a different panel mounting method to investigate the impact on agricultural production and electricity generation:
- Rutgers Animal Farm in New Brunswick has vertically mounted bifacial panels and will be used for the production of forage crops and beef cattle grazing (170 kW DC installed and grid-connected)
- Snyder Research and Extension Farm in Pittstown has single-axis trackers and will be used for hay production (94.5 kW DC installed and 82.4 kW DC grid-connected)
- Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Bridgeton has single-axis trackers with both single-wide and double-wide rows of panels and will be used for the production of vegetable and staple crops (255 kW DC installed and 48.6 kW DC grid-connected)
The research will assess electricity output using Module Level Power Electronics (MLPE) for the measurement and analysis of energy production at each site.
“The aim of our research is to develop knowledge that will help to establish practices that can help improve both the sustainability and viability of farms through safe and regulated adoption of solar energy,” said Margaret Brennan-Tonetta, Director for Resource and Economic Development and Senior Associate Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.
The pilot program is a collaborative effort between the NJBPU, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, the State Agricultural Development Committee, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program. The research program's results and data will inform the establishment of a permanent dual-use solar program in New Jersey.
“Agrivoltaics allows for expanded solar development to address climate change without the land-use challenges often associated with ground-mounted solar developments,” said Bertrand Vandewiele, General Manager of SolarEdge in North America. It can also benefit farmers, allowing a stable revenue stream and protection against climate hazards.”
