South Middlesex Times

Federal, state, and university officials have inaugurated a research and demonstration project at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. The initiative aims to advance technology that could produce renewable energy while making farms more sustainable.

The New Brunswick project is part of a $7.4 million effort. It features 378 vertical bifacial solar panels capable of generating electricity from both sides. This design differs from typical south-facing fixed-tilt arrays that limit space for agricultural operations.

Installed on a three-acre field at the Rutgers University Animal Farm, the system will enable researchers to test whether modern farming practices can be combined with solar energy generation. The vertical bifacial solar array is the first such installation in New Jersey.

“DOE recognizes the enormous opportunity for agrivoltaics to combine agriculture with clean energy production while increasing revenue for farmers and landowners,” said Dr. Becca Jones-Albertus, director of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office. “We congratulate Rutgers University’s Agrivoltaics Program for its commitment to innovation and driving renewable energy deployment forward for the state of New Jersey and beyond.”

Agrivoltaics involves using the same land simultaneously for agriculture and solar energy production. Suitable farming practices include growing staple crops like corn and soybean, vegetables, hay, and raising livestock.

"New Jersey continues to be a national leader in solar, and today marks another major milestone for solar innovation in the Garden State," said New Jersey Board of Public Utilities President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. "As the BPU aims to launch a pilot dual-use program in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, the Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program will continue to inform our efforts to ensure responsible solar development on farmland."

The project aims to counter climate change by providing sustainable energy solutions like solar power that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The installation on College Farm Road will allow researchers to study how it affects grazing strategies for beef cattle and hay harvesting ease. Scientists will also assess whether certain crops fare better in New Jersey’s climate using an agrivoltaic system compared with other regions employing similar systems.

“Rutgers University is proud to be leading the effort in developing agrivoltaics for our region,” said SEBS Executive Dean Laura Lawson. “This new technology has the potential to produce renewable energy needed to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions while simultaneously making our family farms more viable and sustainable.”

Most existing U.S. solar farms use low-mounted arrays that allow limited agricultural applications like grazing small animals or providing pollinator habitats but focus mainly on electricity generation.

“There’s always been this issue that when a big solar farm goes in, it pretty much takes that ground out of agricultural production,” said David Specca, Assistant Director of the Rutgers EcoComplex and lead of the Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program.

Two other agrivoltaic systems were installed at Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Upper Deerfield and Clifford E. Snyder Research Farm in Pittstown as part of this project.

Executive Dean Lawson added, “Today we celebrate completing construction of our three state-of-the-art research sites and beginning much-needed research.”

Rutgers scientists plan multi-year research starting from 2024's growing season.

“We define agrivoltaics as systems allowing diverse agricultural practices including grazing large animals,” Specca said. “Our approach emphasizes food production with generated electricity as supplemental income.”

Agrivoltaics could help achieve New Jersey's renewable energy goals with minimal disruption to its farmland according to A.J Both from SEBS Department Environmental Sciences.

The New Jersey legislature aims substantially increase electricity generation from renewables under Gov Phil Murphy’s proposed goal achieving 100% renewables by 2035

“The technology offers several advantages including reducing operating costs covering electric costs helping maintain farmland active production” Both said

Funding federal state agencies made possible securing $104K seed grant NJ Agricultural Experiment Station followed $2 .9 million state appropriations constructing three agrivoltaic systems university farms

Additional funding DOE through multi-institutional grant totaling $1 .6 million FARMSprogram Collaborators include Delaware State University American Farmland Trust National Renewable Energy Laboratory DOE goal develop strategies thriving diverse agricultural landscapes protecting farmers expanding clean energy generation

Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program awarded contract $2 .8 million NJ Board Public Utilities assist development implementation statewide Dual-Use Solar Energy Pilot Program