The Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Agrivoltaics Research and Demonstration Grant Program is open for applications. Now in its third year, this program provides funding for projects that research and demonstrate the use of solar energy production on agricultural land.
Grant funding is available for projects that include construction or expansion of agrivoltaics systems, demonstration projects, outreach and communication efforts, and research projects. Applicants can find detailed Grant Guidelines and application instructions on the program website. The maximum grant award is $150,000. The total available funding is $300,000.
“This program is designed to directly benefit Colorado farmers by supporting innovative projects that explore the integration of solar energy production with agriculture,” said Evanne Caviness, Director of the Conservation Division at CDA. “Agrivoltaics is an innovative approach we support at CDA because it benefits producers in two ways: by helping them balance the energy production value of renewables while keeping working lands in production.”
This year, CDA will prioritize demonstration projects and outreach or research projects, particularly ones located in southeastern and southwestern Colorado, since those areas do not have any demonstration projects and have not been funded in previous grant rounds.
Eligible entities include individual landowners or farms, Tribal or local governments, research or higher education institutions, nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Applicants will need to submit an application that contains the information included in the application template on the program website. This includes a project summary, approach, benefits to producers, and a budget.
In order to be eligible for consideration, applications must be submitted via email to Rosie.Skovron@state.co.us by 5 pm on Friday, May 30, 2025.
CDA staff will hold an informational webinar on the application process on April 29. Staff will explain the application process for the grant and answer questions. The webinar will be recorded and available to view on the website.
Webinar Information
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 29, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. MT
Registration link: April 29 registration link or go to ag.colorado.gov/conservation/agrivoltaics-grants
The 2024/25 grants funded six diverse projects across the state. Uneva Energy is analyzing the energy and economic potential of installing solar panels on shade structures in feedlots and interviewing feedlot owners about this potential dual-use of feedlot land. The Bousselot Lab at Colorado State University is constructing a solar array above raspberries as a demonstration project at the CSU SPUR campus in Denver. Other awarded projects are led by AgriSolar, Colorado State University, Talbott’s Mountain Gold, and Cloudbreak Energy Partners.
The Agrivoltaics Grant Program is part of CDA's Agricultural Drought and Climate Resilience Office (ADCRO). The grant program aligns with the goal of helping Colorado producers adapt to drought and climate change.