Recording of Tuesday, May 06, 2025 | The smarter E Europe | Conference Program | Language: English | Duration: 6:12 .

Farmers Advocate for Clear Definitions and Prioritization in Agri-PV Systems to Balance Solar Energy Production with Agricultural Needs

The discussion centers on integrating photovoltaic (PV) systems into agriculture, known as agri-PV, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing farmers' perspectives. The primary concern is land scarcity due to competing demands from infrastructure and industry in Europe, particularly Germany. Conventional solar parks exacerbate this issue by occupying agricultural land. Agri-PV offers a potential solution by allowing simultaneous solar energy production and traditional farming activities like wheat harvesting. However, it necessitates careful planning to ensure that agricultural use continues post-installation. Key points include prioritizing rooftop PV installations over farmland usage and maintaining agricultural areas to prevent them from gaining biodiversity status that restricts future farming rights. Differentiating agri-PV from conventional PV parks is crucial for societal support; thus clear definitions regarding minimum height and area for agriculture are needed. Agri-PVs can provide additional benefits such as sun protection or water collection in vineyards but require more investment than standard PV setups due to their complexity. No new European legislation is deemed necessary since existing frameworks already offer possibilities for member states to create favorable conditions for agri-PVs without burdening limited EU budgets further.

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Speaker

Stefan Meitinger
Policy Officer for European Agricultural Policy
Deutscher Bauernverband e. V.
Germany

Talk of session: Agricultural PV - Applications, Technology, & Profitability

Interest in agricultural PV is growing across Europe - not just among policymakers but also among farmers, as it enables efficient land use, creates new revenue streams, and can even boost yields for certain crops. Despite its vast business potential and growing market, agricultural PV remains in its infancy, primarily due to high costs and legislative constraints. This session will provide: Overview of the latest progress in agricultural PV across Europe - from use case to technology Insights into policy support and regulatory developments Updates on biodiversity considerations in agricultural PV projects Economic viability analysis of different agricultural PV applications.

Further Talks of this session:

Welcome & Introduction

Speaker

Dr. Stephan Schindele
Head of Product Management Agri-PV
BayWa r.e. AG
Germany

To Talk

Advanced Agrivoltaic Systems for Orchards, Vineyards and Olive Groves

Speaker

Dr. Simone Fungipane
CEO & Founder
iGreen Systems
Italy

To Talk

Agri-PV Design Competitiveness for Large-Scale PV Plants Amid Economic Shifts

Speaker

Dr. Djaber Berrian
Expert / Deputy Head of Innovation & System Design
BELECTRIC GmbH
Germany

To Talk

Are Sheep Just Cheap? (Understanding the True Ecological & Economical Value of Sheep Grazing in Agri-Pv Projects)

Speaker

Alice Lefort
Agri-PV Product Manager
BayWa r.e. AG
Germany

To Talk

Panel Discussion

Speaker

To Talk