2025 Agrivoltaics Research and Demonstration Grant

The Agrivoltaics Research and Development (R&D) Grant Program, offered by the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA), is designed to foster innovation and research within the agrivoltaics industry. This initiative aligns with a broader mission to support agricultural producers and advance Colorado's renewable energy transition. The program seeks to integrate solar energy production with agricultural practices, aiming to create mutually beneficial outcomes for both sectors. While the prompt mentions "foundation mission alignment" and "Foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change," the provided text specifies the "Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA)" as the donor. Therefore, the alignment is with the CDA's objectives for sustainable agriculture and renewable energy, rather than an external foundation. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are diverse and include tribal or local governments, colleges and universities, other research organizations, energy providers (electric cooperatives, utilities), 501(c)3s, for-profit entities, and individual farmers and ranchers. The impact goals are centered on understanding and demonstrating the potential benefits and tradeoffs of agrivoltaics in Colorado, contributing to both the state's agricultural economy and its renewable energy targets. The program aims to encourage innovative projects that can directly contribute to these goals. The program prioritizes and focuses on several key areas, including the construction and expansion of agrivoltaics systems and demonstration projects, research projects aimed at understanding the benefits, incremental costs, and tradeoffs of such systems, and outreach and communication campaigns to disseminate information about agrivoltaics benefits and obstacles. The grant encourages a comprehensive approach to agrivoltaics, from practical implementation to scientific inquiry and public education. Up to $500,000 is available for projects that study the potential, benefits, and tradeoffs, with a maximum grant award of $249,000 for a single project application. Expected outcomes and measurable results include the successful implementation of innovative agrivoltaics projects, the generation of research findings that deepen the understanding of agrivoltaics' viability and impact, and increased awareness and adoption of agrivoltaics practices among the target audience. Eligible expenses are directly tied to these outcomes, covering salaries, travel, direct costs like construction and research supplies, equipment, marketing, permitting, project assessments, and contractor payments, with indirect costs capped at 5% of the grant award. The program's success will ultimately be measured by its contribution to a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector and a stronger renewable energy infrastructure in Colorado.