Colorado Announces Grants to Agrivoltaic Demonstration Projects

Colorado has awarded $500,000 in grants to seven projects that demonstrate the use and benefits of agrivoltaics, to show that agricultural production and energy development can partner in the state. Namaste Solar (Weld County) will test converting a conventional solar array into an agrivoltaics system that supports grazing and growing crops. Colorado State University (Fort Collins) will study the economic tradeoffs of agrivoltaics versus traditional cropping systems and conventional solar arrays. American Farmland Trust (Statewide) will conduct a strategic outreach project to Colorado producers exploring benefits and obstacles to advancing agrivoltaics in the state. Colorado Cattleman’s Agricultural Land Trust (Statewide) will research current barriers to incorporating agrivoltaics into conservation easements, and propose template language that could allow agrivoltaic development. Sandbox Solar (Fort Collins) will install new bifacial vertical panels on an existing demonstration site. Summit Cellars (Palisade) will compare soil moisture data under agrivoltaic panels and in a traditional vineyard. Finally, Longboard Power (Haxtun) will test an agrivoltaic “shelterbelt” on the edge-of-farm, and capture soil, water, and energy production benefits.
Related NCAT resource: AgriSolar Clearinghouse