Agri-Photovoltaics: Efficient Land Use for Agriculture and Energy
Agri-photovoltaics combines solar energy with agriculture on a single area. This technology enables both power generation and crop cultivation. This makes land use more efficient while contributing to sustainable development. In this article, you'll learn how agri-photovoltaics works, what benefits it offers, and what technologies are used.
Key Points at a Glance
Agri-photovoltaics combines agricultural use with solar power production, allowing a large portion (up to 85%) of the land to remain available for food production while increasing land use efficiency.
Various technologies such as vertical and movable PV modules offer flexible solutions to maximize yields from both agriculture and solar power generation.
Future prospects for agri-PV are promising, with estimated technical potential of up to 1.7 TWp in Germany, contributing to both energy transition and biodiversity promotion.
Agri-Photovoltaics: A Win-Win Situation for Agriculture and Energy
Agri-PV systems combine solar energy generation with agricultural use, creating sustainable land use. This means only about 15% of the agricultural land is used for power generation, while the remaining 85% can continue to be used for agriculture. This efficient land use increases productivity and contributes to sustainable development.
One of the biggest advantages of agri-PV systems is the dual use of agricultural land, which significantly increases the efficiency of land resources. The combination of agriculture and solar power production creates a win-win situation that enables both energy production and agricultural production.
Furthermore, agri-PV systems provide protection against extreme weather conditions and reduce evaporation, contributing to more sustainable agriculture. These benefits make agri-PV attractive to farmers as they increase yields while contributing to climate protection. Agri-PV systems are an important component of this development.
Technologies and Systems in Agri-Photovoltaics
The variety of technologies used in agri-photovoltaics allows systems to be adapted to different agricultural areas and needs. This flexibility is a key advantage of agri-PV technology. Various prototypes have been developed to maximize efficiency and yields while supporting agricultural production.
There are different types of agri-PV systems, including vertical agri-PV, movable PV modules, and fixed PV modules. Each of these technologies has its own advantages and applications. The following sections explain these technologies and their specific benefits in more detail.
Vertical Agri-PV
Vertical agri-PV systems enable dual use of the area for both agriculture and energy generation. These systems use bifacial solar modules that are mounted vertically and can absorb light on both sides, increasing energy yields. A notable example is Europe's largest vertical, bifacial agri-PV plant at the time of construction in Aasen, Donaueschingen, where 11,000 solar modules were installed for energy generation with a total capacity of 4.1 MWp.
These systems offer agricultural operations additional benefits such as shading and wind protection, which can lead to higher yields. Hay and silage can be produced between the module rows, enabling effective use of the space between the solar modules. This dual use helps avoid competition for space between feed production and power generation.
Vertical agri-PV systems are particularly attractive for open space owners as they enable continuous agricultural use as well as efficient power production. The future of agri-PV technology looks promising as it often leads to higher acceptance among the population.
Movable PV Modules
Movable PV modules are mounted on axes and adapt to the sun's path to maximize energy yields. This technology allows increasing the efficiency of solar power production by keeping the modules always at the optimal angle to the sun.
This is particularly useful in agricultural operations seeking maximum energy output to achieve core efficiency.
Fixed PV Modules
Fixed PV modules can be installed on pergola-like structures under which specialty crops like raspberries can be grown. These structures provide plants protection from extreme weather conditions while optimizing land use.
Site Selection and Feasibility Studies
Selecting the right location is crucial for the efficiency and profitability of agri-PV systems. Feasibility studies help evaluate the suitability of specific areas for agri-PV by considering factors such as light availability and agricultural conditions. These studies often use GIS-based analyses to determine the potential of areas and identify suitable locations.
Light simulations are also an important part of these studies as they evaluate the availability of light for plant growth under the agri-PV systems. Site-specific feasibility analyses also consider agricultural crops and their suitability for combination with agri-PV systems.
These comprehensive analyses are crucial to ensure that agri-PV systems are both economically and ecologically sustainable.
Operation and Maintenance of Agri-PV Systems
The selection of appropriate technologies is crucial as it significantly affects efficiency and integration into agricultural operations. Agri-PV can also increase farmers' economic stability, particularly during times of crop failures or market uncertainties. By combining energy production and agricultural use, farmers can diversify their income sources and generate additional value in rural areas.
Economic Aspects and Funding Opportunities
The economic benefits of agri-PV are diverse. Depending on location and system size, the levelized cost of electricity for agri-PV in 2025 often ranges between 7 and 12 cents per kWh, making it competitive. Agri-PV promotes economic efficiency of agricultural operations and contributes to the energy transition. Through dual use of the land, farmers can produce both food or feed and solar power, providing an additional source of income.
Various government funding programs offer financial support for installing agri-PV systems to facilitate entry for farmers. These programs help reduce initial investment costs and increase the profitability of agri-PV projects. The combination of government funding programs and flexible financing models contributes to the attractiveness and profitability of agri-PV projects.
Income Sources through Agri-PV
Agri-PV can create stable additional income sources for agricultural operations. The combination of agricultural production and renewable energy on the same area increases operations' resilience against crop failures. This additional income source can help increase farmers' economic stability and reduce their dependence on unpredictable market conditions.
Through the generated solar energy, farmers can either cover their own energy needs or feed excess power into the public grid, generating additional income. This makes agri-PV an attractive option for farmers looking to improve their economic situation.
Funding Programs and Financing
Agri-PV systems are eligible for funding under the Renewable Energy Act (EEG) 2023, including arable land and grassland, with specific exceptions. The federal government plans to create legal incentives to further promote innovative concepts like agri-PV and floating PV. These legal incentives are crucial to promote the spread of agri-PV and advance the energy transition.
Financing models such as leasing and hire purchase allow farmers to use agri-PV systems without high initial investments. These flexible financing models help lower entry barriers for farmers and increase the attractiveness of agri-PV projects.
Challenges and Solutions
Acceptance of agri-PV in agriculture needs to be increased, as economic viability and integration into agricultural operations are central points. Farmers often show skepticism towards agri-PV due to uncertainties about whether they can continue to farm their land or whether new investments are necessary. It's important to address these concerns through comprehensive information and consultation.
The technical implementation of agri-PV systems requires careful planning, particularly when integrating into existing agricultural processes. Through its construction, agri-PV can minimize the risk of damage to agricultural equipment when modules are properly positioned. Additionally, agri-photovoltaic systems can reduce water consumption in agriculture.
Permissible Combinations with Animal Husbandry and Farming
Legal requirements and specifications for agri-PV systems determine which forms of use are allowed under the solar modules and which are insufficient to qualify as agricultural dual use.
The definition of "agricultural use" plays a central role here.
Permissible Combinations
Permissible combinations include grazing by pasture animals such as cattle, sheep, or goats. These animals keep grass and weeds short, reducing additional maintenance costs while contributing to agricultural production. This dual use of the area is particularly advantageous as it reduces maintenance costs while supporting agricultural production, benefiting the farmer.
Another example is the cultivation of green fodder and energy crops. Growing green fodder plants is allowed as long as it demonstrably serves agricultural production.
Creating flower strips to promote biodiversity is also often accepted, particularly when combined with other active use of the area.
Insufficient Combinations
Not all combinations are permissible. Keeping chickens or pigs under the modules is often not legally recognized as agricultural use since these animals are not considered "grazing animals."
Simply setting aside areas or using them as ecological compensation areas is not sufficient to be recognized as agri-PV use. Active agricultural management must take place to meet the requirements for dual use.
Learn more in our article Agri Photovoltaics and Current Legal Uncertainty in 2025
Future Prospects of Agri-Photovoltaics
The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar estimates the technical potential of agri-PV in Germany at up to 1.7 TWp. This enormous capacity shows agri-PV's potential to make a significant contribution to the energy transition. Demand for agri-PV systems has grown exponentially in recent years, highlighting the growing importance of this technology.
Agri-PV enables dual use of agricultural land for power generation and food cultivation, increasing land use efficiency. This technology can also increase carbon storage in soil (individual studies mention significant increases), offering substantial benefits for climate protection. Additionally, water retention can increase by 20 to 30 percent with certain photovoltaic systems, further supporting agricultural production.
Maintenance of agri-PV systems can also incorporate natural vegetation, contributing to biodiversity and creating additional habitats for plants and animals. In hot regions, agri-PV can provide improved microclimate and reduced solar radiation on plants. Some projects have observed a significant increase in pollinator activity, further supporting agricultural production.
Summary
Agri-photovoltaics offers an innovative solution for simultaneous use of agricultural land for food production and solar power generation. This technology promotes sustainable development by increasing land use efficiency while contributing to climate protection. The various technologies and systems, such as vertical agri-PV, movable and fixed PV modules, offer flexible solutions for different agricultural needs.
The economic benefits and various funding opportunities make agri-PV an attractive option for farmers. Challenges such as acceptance and integration into agricultural operations can be overcome through comprehensive information and careful planning. The future prospects of agri-photovoltaics are promising, and this technology has the potential to make a significant contribution to the energy transition and climate protection.
