US solar developer, BlueWave, has unveiled five agricultural solar projects in Massachusetts, combining 19.8 MWdc of generation capacity and 29.7 MWh of storage with farming operations across the state.
BlueWave Expands Solar Portfolio with Dual-Use Projects
Prominent solar developer BlueWave has launched five new dual-use projects across Massachusetts as part of its growing BlueWave Solar portfolio. Developed under the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program, these sites in Palmer, Haverhill, Dighton, and Douglas feature the company’s cutting-edge agrivoltaic design.
Together, the projects will contribute 19.8 MWdc of generation capacity and 29.7 MWh of energy storage to the grid, reducing carbon emissions by an estimated 13,000 tons each year.
“As a Boston-based company and certified B Corp, serving our surrounding communities is in our DNA and continues to be the driving force behind the solar development decisions we make. The amount of energy that is being generated by these projects is meaningful, ensuring greater access to community solar projects and farmers’ continued success with their land,” said Trevor Hardy, CEO and Co-Founder of BlueWave.
As Massachusetts aims for net-zero emissions by 2050, renewable energy sources like these BlueWave Solar projects will be crucial in helping the state and its communities achieve this goal.
BlueWave’s Dual-Use Solar Farms Support Rural Economies
BlueWave collaborated closely with farmers to implement innovative dual-use practices that benefit landowners, farmers, and the local community. The company prioritized the full use of farmland, designing each project to allow for continuous agriculture beneath the solar arrays. These sites now support a diverse range of crops and pollinator-friendly livestock grazing operations.
“Agrivoltaics provides a pathway for a clean, just energy transition, providing renewable energy in a way that uplifts agricultural operations, creates new opportunities for farmers, and enhances the resilience of rural communities. AFT is proud to be working with an elite few of energy developers, including BlueWave, who are investing in this solution, supporting farmers and landowners, and keeping Massachusetts’s precious farmland under production,” said Nathan L’Etoile, from American Farmland Trust (AFT).
Lowell General Hospital and BlueWave Expand Community Solar Access
Lowell General Hospital has partnered with BlueWave as an anchor customer for two project sites in Palmer and Haverhill, expanding access to community solar. This collaboration helps low-income residents benefit from clean energy by reducing their utility bills and removing financial barriers to supporting local generation.
As an anchor customer, Lowell General Hospital will receive 50% of the energy capacity from these projects through community solar bill credits. These credits will help offset the hospital’s operational costs and support its sustainability initiatives, while also ensuring the solar farms can operate throughout their intended lifespan.
“Since 1891, when renewable hydropower was helping to grow Lowell into the advanced city that it is today, Lowell General Hospital has served the Greater Lowell and surrounding communities with the mission of empowering people to live their best lives. As the anchor customer of a community solar project in partnership with BlueWave, we’re able to support our community while lowering costs by utilizing the latest in state-of-the-art renewable solar energy technology, both on and off our campuses,” said Kevin Foley, Director of Plant Operations and Property at Lowell General Hospital.
By enrolling in a community solar subscription, residents can lower their electricity costs while supporting a local solar farm. When a solar farm generates electricity, the utility calculates its output and converts it into a dollar-value credit, which is then applied to subscribers’ monthly electricity bills to reduce the amount they owe.
The new BlueWave Solar projects are expected to be fully operational by the end of 2024. The company is also expanding its development pipeline, with nearly 500 MWdc of solar capacity in active development across 11 states.