Two cranberry farming operations in Massachusetts have been restored to profitability through the installation of solar energy systems, according to an announcement from Distributed Energy Infrastructure, a solar project developer.
The Black Cat Agrivoltaics Project in Plymouth and the Ring Road Agrivoltaics Project in Kingston represent the first successful integration of solar energy generation with commercial cranberry production. The bogs had been idle for several years after becoming economically unviable. The solar installations, owned by Greenbacker Renewables and developed by Distributed Energy Infrastructure, have enabled the operations to resume cultivation.
Cranberry farmer Iain Ward, who manages the bogs, participated actively in the design and construction phases to protect the sensitive wetland ecosystem. The solar projects generate supplementary income through land leasing arrangements, while Ward continues to earn revenue from cranberry sales and receives compensation for agricultural management services. This diversified income model has made bog operations economically sustainable again.
The projects demonstrate the feasibility of agrivoltaic systems—installations that combine renewable energy generation with active agricultural production—in challenging wetland environments. Both initiatives were recognized as finalists for the North American Agrivoltaics Awards. Ward and Distributed Energy Infrastructure are founding members of the Solar & Farming Association, an industry coalition representing developers, agricultural producers, and related organizations focused on advancing agrivoltaic applications and practices.
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