Distributed Energy Infrastructure Celebrates Harvest of Groundbreaking Cranberry Agrivoltaic Wetlands
Distributed Energy Infrastructure Celebrates Harvest of Groundbreaking Cranberry Agrivoltaic Wetlands
PR Newswire
KINGSTON, Mass., Oct. 12, 2026
Two first-of-their-kind solar sites are producing energy over cranberry bogs
KINGSTON, Mass., Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Distributed Energy Infrastructure (DEI), a leading EPC provider for utility-scale solar and storage projects, announces the harvest of two groundbreaking cranberry agrivoltaics projects: the Black Cat Agrivoltaics Project in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and the Ring Road Agrivoltaics Project in Kingston, Massachusetts. Together, these projects have produced the first-ever agrivoltaic cranberry harvests – a milestone for expanding agrivoltaic applications into challenging wetland environments.
The projects are owned by developer Greenbacker Renewables were installed by Distributed. Cranberry farmer Iain Ward, who manages the bogs, was closely involved throughout design and construction to ensure that the sensitive wetland environment remained intact.
"The DEI team was phenomenal at understanding and adapting solar construction so that energy production could coexist without damage to the perennial cropping system," says Iain Ward. "These projects prove that with the right approach, dual-use solar can be applied to a wide variety of agricultural environments. If we can build over such challenging wetland areas and have successful harvests, we can build almost anywhere."
Farmer-focused agrivoltaics, or dual-use solar, offers a predictable income stream for landowners and tenant farmers while safeguarding farmland from the permanent changes of urban development. Before the solar installations, the Black Cat and Ring Road cranberry bogs had become financially unviable and lay fallow for many years. The solar projects now provide the landowner with additional income through land leasing, making the bogs' cultivation economically viable again. Iain Warde is paid for agricultural management, in addition to his income from selling the cranberry crops.
"Building solar projects over active perennial wetland crops was an exciting challenge, and we're thrilled to see the success of these harvests," says Prateek Tare, Executive Vice President and Co-founder of DEI. "Iain's collaboration and input at every stage was essential for us to ensure a reliable, cost-effective build while safeguarding the productivity of these heritage bogs."
The 1 MW Black Cat project features an energy storage system with a rated power of 500 kVA and an installed energy capacity of 2700 kWh. The 4.4 MW Ring Road project is paired with a 13.5 MWh battery energy storage system. The projects provide clean energy through a community solar model paired with battery storage, boosting local grid resilience, expanding the local tax base through new revenue, and supporting Massachusetts' SMART and Clean Peak Standard goals.
Both projects were finalists for the North American Agrivoltaics Awards, and both Ward and DEI are founding members of the Solar & Farming Association (SAFA). SAFA is a coalition of organizations representing the interests of the agrivoltaics industry, including developers, agricultural producers, livestock producers, and affiliated organizations.
About Distributed Energy Infrastructure
Distributed Energy Infrastructure (DEI) is an integrated renewable energy infrastructure platform providing EPC and battery integration services across the United States. Built to take execution risk, DEI combines experienced leadership, technical expertise, disciplined project controls, and field execution to deliver solar and energy storage projects with confidence.
Backed by best-in-class surety and insurance programs and decades of renewable energy and construction experience, DEI provides the financial and operational strength customers need from preconstruction through commercial operation. With specialized expertise in stand-alone and solar-coupled battery storage, DEI is focused on reducing risk, creating accountability, and delivering infrastructure that performs.
Media Contact
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SOURCE Distributed Energy Infrastructure
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