Fields and the Sun: Agricultural PV, an Opportunity for the Energy and the Farming Industry
07 Mayo 2024 - 10:53AM
Business Wire
The EU’s objectives are ambitious: The total solar energy
deployment is to reach around 750 gigawatts by 2030. In this
context, dual land use concepts, especially agricultural PV, are
gaining importance. At Intersolar Europe, the world’s leading
exhibition for the solar industry, visitors will have the
opportunity to see a varied range of technologies, products and
solutions for agricultural PV, and to gain deeper insights into
best practices and the latest developments. Intersolar Europe will
take place from June 19–21, 2024 as part of The smarter E Europe,
the continent’s largest alliance of exhibitions for the energy
industry, in Munich.
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Latest tracking systems for agricultural
PV applications will be presented at the "Intersolar Europe Special
Exhibit Agrivoltaics". (© BayWa r.e.)
Agriculture or renewable sources of energy – in the past, it was
either, or. Agricultural PV is a new, innovative approach offering
promising options for agriculture and climate protection by joining
agricultural production and the generation of electricity on the
same surface.
Extensive subsidies
European countries such as Germany and France subsidize
agricultural PV with the aim of deploying more solar energy while
reducing the competition for land use. Germany has introduced a
separate auction segment with a top value for “special solar
installation” (which includes agricultural PV installations) in the
Solar Package 1, and France is deemed one of the pioneers for
dedicated legislation. Other countries, such as Austria and the
Netherlands, also promote their agricultural PV sector.
Benefits of agricultural PV
The advantages of dual land use are obvious: It reconciles solar
energy with agriculture, and the protection against storm, hale,
frost and draught adds an extra bonus for farmers. The electricity
production costs are lower than from small roof-mounted
installations, and farmers’ income is diversified. Shading and wind
protection provided by solar panels reduces evaporation, and
innovative solar panels have been developed that also collect
rainwater for irrigation. This can benefit farming operations by
boosting their resilience against crop failure.
Best practice projects
Pilot projects are emerging all over Europe. In the Dutch local
authority of Meierijstad, for example, BayWa r.e. AG and their
subsidiary GroenLeven are implementing a pioneering agricultural PV
project, a 8.7 megawatt peak solar installation covering a vast
raspberry plantation. On Sicily, figs and olives grow between the
module rows of Europe’s largest agricultural PV plant. In Neißeaue,
Germany, Next2Sun Technology works on a 20 megawatts solar farm
with vertical modules.
Intersolar Europe 2024: special attention on agricultural
PV
Intersolar Europe is putting a particular focus on agricultural
PV. A special exhibit in the Outdoor Area will be dedicated to the
topic. Partners of the special exhibit are BayWa AG, BayWa r.e.,
Conexio PSE, Vista Geo and ZIMMERMANN PV-Steel Group. What’s more,
of the more than 1,370 Intersolar Europe exhibitors, some 60
exhibitors will be showcasing agricultural PV products and
solutions. Experts will dive deeper into the topic and offer even
wider information at a number of sessions at the Intersolar Forum
and the Intersolar Europe Conference.
Intersolar Europe
As the world’s leading exhibition for the solar industry,
Intersolar Europe demonstrates the enormous vitality of the solar
market. For more than 30 years, it has been providing a networking
opportunity for key players, focusing on the latest trends,
developments and business models under the motto “Connecting Solar
Business”. Intersolar Europe will take place from June 19–21, 2024
as part of The smarter E Europe at Messe München.
Further information: www.intersolar.de/en.
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Roberto Freiberger ressourcenmangel an der Panke GmbH
Schlesische Straße 26/c4 10997 Berlin press@thesmartere.de
Peggy Zilay Solar Promotion GmbH Postfach 100 170 75101
Pforzheim zilay@solarpromotion.com