The New York Power Authority (NYPA) today (March 9) announced it has been awarded a $102,000 grant to evaluate and report on innovative approaches to integrating dual-land use for agriculture and solar energy production. The grant was awarded through the American Public Power Association's (APPA) Demonstration of Energy & Efficiency Developments (DEED) program, which funds research, pilot projects and education to improve the operations and services of public power utilities. Funding through the DEED grant will empower NYPA, in collaboration with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), to encourage the establishment of best practices that will enable farmers, communities, developers, industry partners, equipment vendors, utilities and other stakeholders to better understand the benefits of sustainable land use practices and co-location of agriculture with solar generation.
Agrivoltaics is the simultaneous use of land for typical agricultural practices, such as grazing, crops, and beekeeping, and photovoltaic (PV) power generation through the use of solar panels. Agrivoltaic systems can be designed in a variety of ways. For high-value crops like tomatoes, lettuce, or herbs, solar arrays must allow sufficient sunlight to pass to ground crops while capturing light to generate electricity. NYPA will study how native vegetation, pollinators, low maintenance plants, agricultural crops and grazing livestock may coexist within the space of solar co-land management. The results of the study will be published to advise proper techniques and tools that optimize sustainable vegetation, agriculture yield and PV electricity generation.
"The APPA's DEED grant will help NYPA explore the potential benefits of solar generation in agricultural settings," said NYPA Senior Director of Research, Technology Development and Innovation Alan Ettlinger. "By studying agrivoltaic systems, NYPA will be able to create a blueprint that will articulate sustainable land practices and help guide New York to a more sustainable, carbon-free future."
"This is exactly the kind of innovation that the APPA's DEED program is built to fund," said APPA Vice President of Technical and Operations Services Alex Hofmann. "We can't wait to see how the project plays out and to share the learnings with other public power utilities."
"This research will offer further understanding of proper techniques and tools required to optimize sustainable vegetation, agriculture yield and solar PV capacity for utilities around North America," said David Porter, EPRI Senior Director of Electrification and Sustainable Energy Strategies. "We're proud to participate in this project, working with collaborators, to evolve the thinking around such a timely topic for New York and the industry at large."
NYPA is a long-time DEED program partner and received $250,000 to fund two demonstration projects in 2021 one that is analyzing the impact of ice on a hydropower plant and one testing an advanced technology that evaluates the health of high voltage assets in a substation.
This research initiative is one of the Power Authority's many innovative projects supporting New York's goal to generate 70 percent of the state's electricity from renewables by 2030.
In addition to NYPA's agrivoltaics program, New York State has established the Farmland Protection Working Group (FPWG) and the Agricultural Technical Working Group (A-TWG). These working groups are designed to ensure solar siting that is responsive to the needs of New York's agricultural communities.
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, "Farmers are the original environmentalists - they care deeply about our land and water and work to protect these natural resources in New York State and across the country. NYPA's work toward integrating dual-land use for agriculture and solar energy production is in line with our goal of fostering informed solar development while supporting farm viability so that our agricultural industry can continue feeding New Yorkers, stewarding the land, and driving our economy forward."
For more information on the Power Authority's efforts in creating a more sustainable New York State, visit NYPA's website.
About NYPA
The New York Power Authority (NYPA) is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 80 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. NYPA uses no state tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. For more information visit www.nypa.gov and follow us on Twitter @NYPAenergy, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.
About EPRI
Founded in 1972, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is the world's preeminent independent, non-profit energy research and development organization, with offices around the world. EPRI's trusted experts collaborate with more than 450 companies in 45 countries, driving innovation to ensure the public has clean, safe, reliable, affordable, and equitable access to electricity across the globe. Together, we are shaping the future of energy. Follow EPRI on Twitter @EPRINews and on LinkedIn.
About the American Public Power Association
The American Public Power Association is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 49 million people in 2,000 towns and cities nationwide. The Association advocates and advises on electricity policy, technology, trends, training, and operations.
Contact: Alex Chiaravalle | alex.chiaravalle@nypa.gov | (518) 860-9935
