Rutgers University Selects SolarEdge Technologies for Its Agrivoltaics Research and to Assist the Development of the New Jersey’s Dual-Use Solar Energy Pilot Program
01 July 2024 - 9:30PM
Business Wire
Outcomes from the Rutgers Research Program will
be used to inform the establishment of the Dual-Use Solar Energy
Pilot Program that will be administered by the New Jersey Board of
Public Utilities (NJBPU)
SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (“SolarEdge”) (NASDAQ: SEDG), a
global leader in smart energy technology, today announced that its
technology has been selected by Rutgers, the State University of
New Jersey, as part of an innovative research and demonstration
program to explore the potential of dual use agrivoltaics (the
combination of agricultural production and solar energy generation
simultaneously on the same land) for farmers across the state.
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Snyder Research and Extension Farm in
Pittstown used for hay production. credit: Advanced Solar Products
(ASP)
Rutgers research will assist the Dual-Use Solar Energy Pilot
Program that will be administered by the NJBPU. The pilot program
is a three-year, 200 MW agrivoltaics initiative with the goal of
exploring the feasibility and benefits of agrivoltaics. The pilot
program is a collaborative effort including 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 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 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 kWDC installed and
grid-connected)
- Snyder Research and Extension Farm in Pittstown has single-axis
trackers and will be used for hay production (94.5 kWDC installed
and 82.4 kWDC 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 kWDC installed and 48.6 kWDC grid-connected)
At each site, the research will evaluate electricity output,
using Module Level Power Electronics (MLPE) for the measurement and
analysis of energy production.
“Agrivoltaics is a fast-growing and hugely exciting sector that
provides a solution for many of the business challenges that
farmers are facing today – from managing rising energy costs to
moving to more sustainable production. However, we are still at the
start of this journey. 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. We are excited to be
working with SolarEdge to achieve these goals,” said Margaret
Brennan-Tonetta, Director for Resource and Economic Development and
Senior Associate Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment
Station.
Bertrand Vandewiele General Manager of SolarEdge in North
America, said: “Agrivoltaics is a perfect example of a real
‘win-win’. This practice allows for expanded solar development to
address climate change, without the land-use challenges often
associated with ground mounted solar developments. It can also
provide benefits for farmers, allowing a stable revenue stream and
protection against climate hazards. In the U.S., there are more
than 500 Agrivoltaics sites, producing a total of 9 GW of solar
energy1. These numbers are likely to grow as interest in
Agrivoltaics has been greatly expanding, as indicated by the
increase in support and funding for this sector. For example, the
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s funding for Agrivoltaics more than
tripled from 2021 to 20222.
Farmers are able to move to more sustainable and profitable
production without substantially reducing space for growing crops –
in fact agrivoltaics can potentially boost the production of
certain shade-tolerant crops by providing protection from direct
sunlight, while the cooler temperature below the panels reduces
water evaporation. Meanwhile, the end consumer can feel good about
choosing produce from sustainable farms. Through this collaboration
with Rutgers University, we look forward to playing our part in
helping to advance the adoption of more sustainable and profitable
farming practices.”
END
About the Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program:
The Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program (RAP) is a multidisciplinary
group of Rutgers faculty and staff committed to designing and
conducting the applied agrivoltaics research and outreach necessary
for New Jersey farmers to make informed decisions about adopting
this technology, as well as its potential role in contributing to
the State’s renewable energy goals. RAP is part of the NJ
Agricultural Experiment Station and Rutgers Cooperative Extension
which provide research, outreach and educational resources to
residents, communities, and businesses in New Jersey and
beyond.
Please visit
https://ecocomplex.rutgers.edu/agrivoltaics-research.html for more
information. For media inquiries or more information about the
Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program, please contact Dave Specca, RAP
project lead, at specca@njaes.rutgers.edu.
About SolarEdge
SolarEdge is a global leader in smart energy technology. By
leveraging world-class engineering capabilities and with a
relentless focus on innovation, SolarEdge creates smart energy
solutions that power our lives and drive future progress. SolarEdge
developed an intelligent inverter solution that changed the way
power is harvested and managed in photovoltaic (PV) systems. The
SolarEdge DC optimized inverter seeks to maximize power generation
while lowering the cost of energy produced by the PV system.
Continuing to advance smart energy, SolarEdge addresses a broad
range of energy market segments through its PV, storage, EV
charging, batteries and grid services solutions. Visit us at:
solaredge.com.
______________________________ 1 According to the National
Renewable Energy Laboratory
2 USDA ERS - Common Ground for Agriculture and Solar Energy:
Federal Funding Supports Research and Development in
Agrivoltaics
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Press SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. Lily Salkin Global
Public and Media Relations Manager Lily.salkin@solaredge.com
SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. Dana Noyman Head of Corporate
Communications and Global PR dana.noyman@solaredge.com
Investor JB Lowe Head of Investor Relations
investors@solaredge.com
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