Key facts
- Agri-PV systems allow for the simultaneous cultivation of crops and generation of solar energy on farmland.
- German startup feld.energy is installing these systems with over 800 farmers across approximately 900 hectares.
- The technology is designed to accommodate standard farming machinery, such as combine harvesters.
- Feld.energy aims to deploy one gigawatt of PV capacity in other European countries, including Italy, within four years.
The increasing deployment of solar panels in rural areas has sparked concerns about the potential loss of agricultural land. However, innovative solutions like agricultural photovoltaics (agri-PV) are emerging to address this challenge. In Bavaria, Germany, a startup named feld.energy is leading this charge, collaborating with farmers like Georg Bockmaier to integrate solar energy generation directly into farmland.
Bockmaier, whose family has traditionally grown potatoes and cereals, is now part of a growing movement adopting agri-PV. He confirmed that the installed systems do not impede his farming operations, stating that his combine harvester can easily pass through the rows of panels. The systems can also be positioned vertically, offering flexibility in land use.
Feld.energy, founded two years ago, has already partnered with over 800 farmers, installing agri-PV systems across approximately 900 hectares. The company has ambitious expansion plans, aiming to extend its reach into other European countries such as Italy. Their goal is to bring one gigawatt of photovoltaic capacity online within the next four years, a capacity equivalent to an entire nuclear power plant.