The American-Made Large Animal and Solar System Operations (LASSO) Prize offers $10+ million in cash prizes to multi-stakeholder teams that develop impactful projects to deepen our understanding of the co-location of solar photovoltaics (PV) and cattle grazing operations (cattle agrivoltaics).
The LASSO Prize is designed to bring solar developers, farmers, ranchers, and other stakeholders together to form teams; build pilot sites; identify best practices, use cases, costs, applicable business models, and associated energy and agricultural outcomes; host field days; and more!
Large Animal and Solar System Operations (LASSO) Prize:
Agrivoltaics, the co-location of solar PV and agriculture, is a growing industry that shows promising benefits for both agricultural production and solar energy development.
Cattle agrivoltaics has the potential to reduce land use conflict, preserve agricultural land, increase landowner and farmer/rancher revenues, and may also benefit animal welfare and plant and soil health while easing some of the barriers to solar energy deployment.
This innovative practice is relatively new in the U.S., and more pilot and pilot site projects are needed to de-risk designs and business models to prove that cattle agrivoltaics can yield agricultural and economic opportunities.
The LASSO Prize, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office, will support pilot and pilot site projects designed to gather and share information about costs, business models, and energy and agricultural outcomes associated with cattle agrivoltaics. The prize also aims to support relationship-building between the solar energy and agricultural communities and generate best practices that will help expand the industry.
Who Can Compete
The prize is open to U.S.-based individuals and organizations, including solar developers, ranchers, and farmers. Teams are encouraged to include members who are hardware and software manufacturers, local governments, utilities, commodity organizations, historically underserved producers, researchers, extension programs, and universities with expertise in cattle research and agrivoltaics. See the Official Rules for eligibility criteria.
NOTE: For this prize, cattle agrivoltaics entails the co-location of solar and cattle grazing and does not include rooftop PV systems, projects only within feedlots or finishing pens, projects without integration/co-location of the cattle and the PV array, or projects that include PV co-location with any livestock other than cattle.
Prize Structure
The LASSO Prize encourages submissions that will demonstrate integration of PV with cattle grazing, promote sustainable agricultural and energy practices, enhance land use efficiency, and support rural economies.
Interested competitors are encouraged to create multi-stakeholder teams and compete in one of two available tracks: Standard Track or Operating Projects Track. Both tracks are accepting Phase 1 submissions until March 6, 2025, 5 p.m. ET.
Standard Track
The Standard Track is open to new cattle agrivoltaics projects. Through the three phases (Phase 2 consists of two subphases), this track focuses on teaming, system and grazing plan design, construction, implementation, and multi-year data collection.
Phase 1: Team Formation and Project Planning
Teams identify at least one potential site and develop a plan for integrating PV systems with cattle grazing.
The minimum eligible size of a planned cattle agrivoltaics system is 250 kW-dc.
Deadline: March 6, 2025, 5 p.m. ET
Phase 2A: Detailed Planning, Design and Permitting:
Teams refine project plans, finalize system design, and complete due diligence, including receiving engineering designs and drawings, completing energy production modeling, obtaining proof of submission of an interconnection application, and receiving applicable NEPA clearance, land use permits or approvals.
Phase 2B: Construction and Initial Operation
Teams construct cattle agrivoltaics systems and demonstrate operational viability, including energizing the system and submitting photos of the system, inspection reports and proof of cattle integration.
Phase 3: Data Collection and Analysis
Over the course of two years, with four submission deadlines (subphases 3A - 3D, every six months), teams will collect and report data on system performance, energy production, operations and maintenance, cattle health and agricultural outcomes.
Operating Projects Track
This track is open to currently operational cattle agrivoltaics projects that are fully operational by the Phase 1 application deadline and that are larger than 250 kW-dc.
Phase 1: Documentation of Existing Projects
Teams submit team information, system specifications, cost information, and cattle integration details.
Deadline: March 6, 2025, 5 p.m. ET
Phase 2: Data Collection and Reporting
Over two years, with four submission deadlines (subphases 2A - 2D, every six months), teams collect and report data on system performance, operations and maintenance, energy production, cattle health, and agricultural outcomes.
*The LASSO Data Bounty Bonus Prize is open to teams in both the Standard Track and the Operating Projects Track. A single award will be given for the LASSO Data Bounty Bonus Prize, selected from the total applicant pool inclusive of both the Standard and Operating Projects Tracks.
Bonus Prizes
The LASSO Prize offers three bonus prizes — the Largest PV System Bonus Prize, the LASSO Data Bounty Bonus Prize, and the Inclusive Outreach Bonus Prize.
The Largest PV System Bonus Prize is awarded to the team with the largest operational cattle agrivoltaics system in which cattle interact with a DC-rated PV capacity over 5 MW-dc, considering only teams from the Standard Track with eligible Standard Track Phase 2B submissions.
The LASSO Data Bounty Bonus Prize will be awarded to the team that provides the most valuable additional datasets beyond minimum requirements. Suggested data includes panel soiling, soil health, plant community structure and function; cattle biometrics and performance, cattle behavior, and/or additional PV system metrics.
The Inclusive Outreach Bonus Prize will award up to three teams for exceptional planning and execution of their field day community events. Teams will be evaluated on the effectiveness of their outreach and event execution, with emphasis on accessibility, engaging diverse audience, clear messaging, and post-event communication.
Guidelines
Please review the Official Rules for the complete application process and instructions for competing.
If you want to receive updates on the prize or have any questions, please follow this HeroX page, subscribe to the American-Made Newsletter, or email prize administrators directly at .
You can access teaming resources on the Resource tab to help identify other stakeholders who are interested in your project.
Rules Modification 1 and Additional Phase 2 & 3 Rules Now Available!
Exciting updates from the LASSO Prize!
The prize has added more than $1.8 million to the prize pool, increasing the total available awards to $10,015,000. These additional prize funds will increase the number of potential winning teams by two for each phase of the Standard Track.
In addition, a new Inclusive Outreach Bonus Prize, has been added to award up to three teams' plans and efforts to provide accessible, inclusive, and impactful outreach about their projects and field day community events.
The official rules have also been updated to reflect the prize pool additions, modifications to existing rules, and the addition of rules for Phases 2 and 3.
Major updates include:
Provided edits and clarifications throughout the Standard Track and Operating Track Phase 1/Standard Track Phase 2A rules
Added that winners of Phase 1 (both Standard Track and Operating Projects Track) will receive no-cost technical assistance from NREL agrivoltaics experts
Added rules for Standard Track Phase 2B and Phase 3
Added rules for Operating Track Phase 2
All of the updates can be found in the new rules document which has been posted on the Resources tab.
Questions about the prize? Please email and/or join our webinar and office hours series to learn more about the ins and outs of the prize and get answers!
A recording of the January 8, 2025, Large Animal and Solar System Operations (LASSO) Technical Assistance Webinar, focusing on design basics for cattle agrivoltaics projects, is available now. If you missed this valuable session, stream it now to catch up on any prize details you may have missed. You can also access the presentation slides on the Resource tab.
Remember that the deadline to submit your entry to the LASSO Prize is March 6, 2025. Teams are encouraged to start prepping submissions now. Don’t miss your chance at a share of the $8+ million in cash prizes!
We still have several more technical assistance webinars and office hours to help you with your submissions!
Do you have questions? Email , and we will be happy to help. You can also use the public HeroX Forum to ask questions and spark discussions with HeroX community members.
It’s not too late to registerfor today’s Technical Assistance Webinar on Agrivoltaics Design Basics.
Join us at 1 p.m. ET for this free technical assistance webinar featuring agrivoltaics experts from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, focused on important design factors and barriers to keep in mind when designing your projects for the LASSO prize.
The webinar will feature a presentation as well as time for Q&A, so bring your questions.
Join us for our technical assistance webinar series and office hours via Zoom, starting Wednesday, January 8! Agrivoltaic researchers and prize administrators will be on hand to provide information on agrivoltaic system design, data collection, and more to help you get your prize initiative ready for the March 6 submission deadline.
We look forward to answering your questions!
January 8, 1 p.m. ET – Agrivoltaics Design Basics This free technical assistance webinar will feature agrivoltaics researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) Innovative Solar Practices Integrated with Rural Economies and Ecosystems (InSPIRE) team and will focus on design basics for cattle agrivoltaics projects. Join us to learn about important design factors and barriers to keep in mind when designing your projects for the Large Animal and Solar System Operations (LASSO) prize. The webinar will feature a presentation as well as time for Q&A. Register
January 22, 2 p.m. ET – Office Hours #1 This free technical assistance webinar will feature agrivoltaics researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) Innovative Solar Practices Integrated with Rural Economies and Ecosystems (InSPIRE) team, who will be available to answer your technical questions related to cattle agrivoltaics for the Large Animal and Solar System Operations (LASSO) prize. This webinar will be an office hour format, so bring your questions! Register
February 5, 1 p.m. ET – Data Collection This free technical assistance webinar will feature agrivoltaics researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) Innovative Solar Practices Integrated with Rural Economies and Ecosystems (InSPIRE) team and will focus on data collection for the Large Animal and Solar System Operations (LASSO) prize. Join us to learn about the importance of data collection during the prize, how the data will be used, how to build a team to be able to collect data, and what equipment may be needed to successfully meet the data collection requirements of the prize. The webinar will feature a presentation as well as time for Q&A. Register
February 19, 1 p.m. ET – Office Hours #2 This free technical assistance webinar will feature agrivoltaics researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) Innovative Solar Practices Integrated with Rural Economies and Ecosystems (InSPIRE) team, who will be available to answer your technical questions related to cattle agrivoltaics for the Large Animal and Solar System Operations (LASSO) prize. This webinar will be an office hour format, so bring your questions! Register
Join us for an interactive office hour designed to help you navigate the Large Animal and Solar System Operations (LASSO) Prize application process and connect with potential teammates! This event is taking place on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 3 p.m. ET. Register here for the event!
Hosted by the LASSO Prize Power Connector (ADL Ventures), this session offers a chance to get your questions answered on everything from eligibility and technical requirements to best practices for cattle agrivoltaics.
You’ll also have the opportunity to meet other participants and explore team-building options. Each team must include a solar developer and a cattle rancher or farmer with optional roles like landowners, research organizations, and local utilities. This is a great chance to find the right mix of skills and expertise for your project!
Time : December 19, 2024, 3 p.m. ET Register today!
