Prestigious BARD Grant Awarded for Innovative Agrivoltaics Research

A new international research project led by the University of Houston has been awarded funding from the prestigious BARD Foundation (the United States–Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund). The project brings together leading researchers from the University of Houston, the University of New Mexico, the Agricultural Research Organization (Volcani Institute), Tel Aviv University, and Afeka.

Dr. Gur Mittelman, lecturer at Afeka is a key member of the Israeli research team, contributing his expertise in renewable energy including agrivoltaics systems and solar technologies. Notably, the concept behind the current proposal developed at the University of Houston was inspired by the innovative collector pioneered by Dr. Mittelman from Afeka.

The project aims to develop an innovative semi-transparent agrivoltaic system that enables the simultaneous production of renewable electricity and agricultural crops in arid and water-scarce environments. The researchers will design and test advanced bifacial solar panels that selectively transmit the light wavelengths required for photosynthesis while converting the rest of the solar radiation into electricity.

By integrating novel optical filters, recyclable materials, and advanced photovoltaics, the system is expected to improve crop productivity, reduce water consumption, and increase electrical generation. Field testing will be conducted under desert conditions in Israel to evaluate the technology’s agricultural, environmental, and economic benefits.

The project takes a significant step toward sustainable agriculture and clean energy production, while strengthening scientific collaboration between Israeli and U.S. research institutions.