The first batch of cranberries has been harvested from the marshes where two solar projects are located—one at the Black Cat Agrivoltaic Project in Plymouth and the other at the Ring Road Agrivoltaic Project in Kingston, both situated in Massachusetts. These projects are owned by developer Greenbacker Renewables and installed by Distributed Energy Infrastructure (DEI).

Ian Ward, a cranberry grower who manages wetlands, was deeply involved in the design and construction process to ensure the sensitive wetland environment remained intact.

"The DEI team has excelled in understanding and transforming solar energy construction, enabling energy production to coexist with perennial crop systems without causing harm," he said. "These projects demonstrate that with the right approach, dual-purpose solar can be applied across diverse agricultural environments. If we can achieve success in such challenging wetland areas, we can likely implement solar projects almost anywhere."

Before the installation of solar facilities, the Black Cat and Loop Cranberry Marsh had become economically unviable and remained abandoned for years. The current solar project provides landowners with additional income through land leasing, making the marsh's cultivation economically feasible again. In addition to the revenue from selling cranberry crops, Ward also receives agricultural management fees.

"Developing solar projects on active perennial wetland crops presents an exciting challenge, and we are delighted to witness the success of these harvests," said Pratik Tare, Executive Vice President and Co-Founder of DEI. "At every stage, Ayn's collaboration and commitment are crucial to ensuring reliable and cost-effective construction while safeguarding the productivity of these ancient marshes."

The 1 MW Black Cat project is equipped with a 2.7 MWh energy storage system. The 4.4 MW loop project is equipped with a 13.5 MWh battery energy storage system.

Both projects were finalists for the North American Photovoltaic Agriculture Awards, and Ward and DEI are founding members of the Solar and Agriculture Foundation (SAFA), an organization representing the interests of the photovoltaic agriculture industry, including developers, agricultural producers, livestock producers, and related organizations.