Rutgers University Selects SolarEdge Technologies to Research Agrivoltaics and Help Develop Dual-Use Solar Pilot Program in New Jersey

SolarEdge Technologies, Inc., a global leader in smart energy technologies, announced that its technology has been selected by Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, for an innovative research and demonstration program to explore the potential of dual-use agrivoltaics (combining agricultural production and simultaneous solar energy generation on the same site) for farmers across the state.

Rutgers research will support the Dual-Use Solar Energy Pilot Program, which will be administered by NJBPU. The pilot program is a three-year, 200 MW agrivoltaics initiative to investigate the feasibility and benefits of agrivoltaics. The pilot program is a joint effort between NJBPU, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, the State Agricultural Development Commission, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program. Results and data from the research program will be used to inform the establishment of a permanent Dual-Use Solar Program in New Jersey. The Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program includes three sites, each using a different panel mounting method to study the impact on agricultural production and electricity generation:

• Rutgers Animal Farm in New Brunswick has vertically mounted bifacial panels that will be used for forage production and beef cattle grazing (170 kW)_{Direct current} (installed and connected to the network)
• Snyder Research and Extension Farm in Pittstown has single-axis trackers and will be used for hay production (94.5 kW)_{Direct current} installed and 82.4 kW_{Direct current} connected to the network)
• The Rutgers Agricultural Research and Development Center in Bridgeton has single-axis trackers with single- and double-wide rows of panels and will be used for vegetable and primary crop production (255 kW)_{Direct current} installed and 48.6 kW_{Direct current} connected to the network)

At each site, research will evaluate electricity production using modular power electronics (MLPE) to measure and analyze energy production.

“Agrivoltaics is a rapidly growing and exciting sector that offers solutions to many of the business challenges farmers face today – from managing rising energy costs to transitioning to more sustainable production. However, we are still at the beginning of this journey. The goal of our research is to develop knowledge that will help establish practices that can help improve both sustainability and farm profitability through the safe and regulated deployment of solar energy. We are excited to partner with SolarEdge to achieve these goals,” said Margaret Brennan-Tonetta, Director of Resources and Economic Development and Senior Deputy Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.

Bertrand Vandewiele, CEO of SolarEdge North America, said: “Agrivoltaics is a great example of a true ‘win-win’. This practice allows for expanded solar development to address climate change without the land use challenges often associated with ground-mounted solar projects. It can also benefit farmers by providing a stable income stream and protection from climate threats. There are over 500 Agrivoltaics sites in the United States, producing a combined 9 GW of solar energy. These numbers are likely to grow as interest in Agrivoltaics has grown significantly, as evidenced by the growth in support and funding for the sector. For example, funding for Agrivoltaics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture more than tripled between 2021 and 2022.

Farmers can transition to more sustainable and profitable production without significantly reducing the space available to grow crops – in fact, agrivoltaics can potentially increase production of some shade-tolerant crops by providing protection from direct sunlight, while the lower temperature under the panels reduces water evaporation. Meanwhile, the end consumer can feel good about choosing produce from sustainable farms. Through this partnership with Rutgers University, we look forward to playing our part in promoting the adoption of more sustainable and profitable agricultural practices.”

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