Description
The California Energy Commission’s GFO‑25‑306 solicitation funds research and development projects that improve utility‑scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems placed on non‑traditional terrain such as water bodies, reservoirs, brownfields, and other unconventional sites, often paired with battery storage. The notice of proposed award (NOPA) identifies three awardees in Group 1—Watts on Water LLC, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and the University of California, Berkeley—totaling $5.94 million in CEC funds, with each applicant also contributing substantial matching funds. The program aims to advance high‑fidelity geospatial prospecting, agrivoltaic optimization, and solar‑canal deployment frameworks, thereby reducing costs, enhancing performance, and expanding deployment opportunities for renewable energy in challenging environments.
• Targeted work: optimization of PV design, floating‑solar platforms, agrivoltaics, and reservoir‑based solar deployment.
• Funding: up to $2.1 million per awardee (CEC cash) plus required private‑sector match funds.
• Eligibility: entities that submitted proposals by June 9 2026 and passed technical screening (19 proposals total, 3 awarded).