News

“Curiosity Cultivates Solar Solutions: Innovating Agrivoltaics for a Sustainable Future” – An article from the Rutgers Climate and Energy Institute (RCEI)

By Aleen Mirza

By Shawn Sorrels • March 21, 2025

“Curiosity may have killed the cat, but for RCEI Affiliate Dunbar Birnie, it sparked a decades-long passion for solar energy and innovation. From collecting geodes and shiny rocks as a child to creating one of Rutgers’ first courses on solar energy over 25 years ago, Birnie’s fascination with the physical world and drive to learn has fueled his research and fulfilling career in materials science and engineering.”

“To date, one of Birnie’s notable projects is his involvement in the Rutgers’ Agrivoltaics Program which brings together an ambitious interdisciplinary team tackling two critical issues: the growing demand for solar power and the preservation of farmland for crop production.”

Dual-Use Solar Pilot Program Pre-Qualification

By Shawn Sorrels • January 13, 2025

January 6, 2025 – Staff of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (Board) (Staff) invites all interested parties to submit Expression of Interests (EOIs) for pre-qualification into the Dual-Use Solar Energy Pilot Program (Pilot Program). The linked notice includes instructions for how to complete and submit an EOI. The deadline for submitting EOIs is 11:59:59 P.M. on February 14, 2025. More information is provided in the Public Notice. The EOI form is accessible, here. Additional assistance in completing an EOI can be found, here.

Visit the Dual-Use Solar Pilot Program webpage for more information.

Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

By Shawn Sorrels • October 1, 2024

Ribbon Cutting by RAP Lead David Specca and event speakers

A sincere thank you from Program Lead David Specca and the RAP team to the 80+ people who attended the Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program ribbon cutting ceremony at the Rutgers Animal Farm in New Brunswick, NJ! Special thanks to the speakers who applauded the research and outreach efforts of the Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program and discussed the potential impacts of agrivoltaics for both the agricultural and solar industries in New Jersey: Rutgers Executive Dean Laura Lawson, Rutgers Senior Vice Provost of Research Denise Hien, New Jersey Senator Bob Smith, New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Commissioner Marian Abdou, United States Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) Director Becca Jones-Albertus, and New Jersey Assemblywoman Andrea Katz

David Specca, Rutgers Agrivoltaic Program Lead, describes the scope of the research and demonstration project.

“We define agrivoltaics as systems that allow for a more diverse range of agricultural or horticultural practices, including grazing large animals, producing staple and specialty crops, and hay,” Specca said. “Our approach emphasizes food production and considers the generated electricity as a low-risk and supplemental income for farmers.”

David Specca and invited speakers on stage addresing the crowd.

Attendees gathered for the ribbon cutting

Attendees gather at the field gate for the ribbon cutting. The vertical solar panel arrays can be seen in the right background and the shade structures for the cattle can be seen in the left background. Solar panels will be installed on the tops of the shade structures.

Their first day around the solar arrays, the cows were curious and happy, walking the length of one of three experimental “blocks”. The cows will be rotated through each block, their grazing patterns measured, and forage quality analyzed to determine the affects of shading from the solar arrays.