The American-Made Large Animal and Solar System Operations (LASSO) Prize from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) is an $8 million prize that supports pilot and demonstration projects designed to gather and share data on costs, business models, and outcomes associated with cattle agrivoltaics, the co-location of photovoltaics (PV) and cattle grazing operations. Multi-stakeholder teams of solar and agricultural experts will work to develop impactful projects that deepen our understanding of cattle agrivoltaics and showcase successful business models that support U.S. energy goals and responsible land use.
Agrivoltaics, the co-location of solar energy and agriculture, is a growing industry with hundreds of active sites. With around one-third of U.S. land currently used for grazing cattle, cattle agrivoltaics has the potential to accelerate solar deployment while preserving agricultural operations, generating additional income for farmers, ranchers, and landowners, and providing economic benefits for rural communities. The LASSO Prize seeks to generate data and share insights that help validate and de-risk cattle agrivoltaics designs and operations to facilitate wider adoption.
How it Works
The LASSO Prize is open to U.S.-based for-profit and nonprofit private entities, academic institutions, and nonfederal government entities, such as states, counties, Tribes, and municipalities. National laboratories are not eligible to compete on teams but may support teams while complying with lab partnership requirements. All teams must include a U.S.-based solar developer and a U.S.-based rancher or farmer. Teams may also include other stakeholders, such as landowners, extension agents, research organizations, local utilities, product developers, and commodity organizations. Use these teaming resources to discover and connect with potential collaborators.
Cattle agrivoltaics systems must have a PV capacity of at least 250 kilowatts direct current.
Tracks and Phases
Standard Track: For cattle agrivoltaics projects that are not yet created or are in early development.
- Phase 1: Up to 14 winners, $50,000 each. Competitors form teams, identify potential cattle agrivoltaics sites, and develop project plans.
- Phase 2A: Up to seven winners, $225,000 each. Teams refine project plans, finalize system designs, and obtain necessary permits for construction.
- Phase 2B: Up to seven winners, $225,000 each. Teams construct cattle agrivoltaics systems and demonstrate operational viability.
- Phase 3: Up to seven winners, with four sub-phase submissions, $100,000 for each winner at each sub-phase. Over the course of two years, with submission deadlines every six months, teams collect and report data on (at minimum) system performance, energy production and maintenance, cattle health, and agricultural outcomes. Teams will also host community events.
Operating Track: For cattle agrivoltaics projects that are fully operational at the time of the submission deadline.
- Phase 1: Up to three winners, $50,000 each. Teams submit comprehensive project documentation.
- Phase 2: Up to three winners, with four sub-phase submissions, $100,000 for each winner at each sub-phase. Over the course of two years, with submission deadlines every six months, teams collect and report data on (at minimum) system performance, energy production and maintenance, cattle health, and agricultural outcomes. Teams will also host community events.
Two $100,000 bonus prizes are included in the more than $8 million cash awards: one for the largest PV system (only Standard Track teams are eligible) and one for the most valuable data set beyond the minimum requirements (teams from both tracks are eligible).
Timeline
- The competition opened on September 10, 2024
- SETO hosted an informational webinar on September 24, 2024 [Recording & Slides]
- SETO hosted an informational webinar on December 4, 2024 [Recording & Slides]
- Submission materials for Phase 1 are due March 6, 2025.
- DOE anticipates Phase 1 winners will be announced in May 2025
- Standard Track Phase 2 is expected to run from May 2025 to March 2028
- Operating Track Phase 2 is expected to run from June 2025 to May 2027
- Standard Track Phase 3 is expected to run from April 2028 to May 2030
Additional Information
- Start building your team
- Register to compete in the LASSO Prize
- Download the rules for the competition
- For questions about the LASSO Prize, email LASSO.Prize@nrel.gov
- Learn more about agrivoltaics and related SETO research
- Learn about other American-Made Challenges at SETO
- Learn about SETO's open funding opportunities
The American-Made LASSO Prize is a part of the American-Made Challenges and is administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
