More biodiversity in Agri-PV

July 21, 2023

Source: Energy & Management Powernews

Agri-PV yes, but not only with a focus on intensive agriculture: representatives of the solar industry are now advocating for the strengthening of biodiversity-enhancing Agri-PV.

Under the title "PV open space in harmony with sustainable agriculture and biodiversity", an initiative of representatives of the solar industry has presented a position paper. Addressee of the paper: the ministries of agriculture, economy and environment.

The goal is to "harmonize the areas of biodiversity, agriculture and energy transition and thus ensure a high level of social acceptance" through interdepartmental adjustments in the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) and in agricultural and nature conservation law, among other things, according to a statement by co-signatory Bawa Re.

Currently, the industry representatives write in their position paper, the design of Agri-PV is limited to intensive, i.e. maximum-yield agriculture plus PV use. However, this form of dual use is associated with economic hurdles, which means that Agri-PV in its current form threatens to remain a niche product. Moreover, the current Agri-PV cannot achieve the goal of increasing biodiversity, he said.

In the future, therefore, biodiversity-enhancing Agri-PV should be anchored in energy and agricultural law. This is understood to mean ground-mounted systems that demonstrably promote biodiversity due to their adapted design and the professional maintenance of the area by an agricultural business. For example, it should be integrated into the tenders of the first segment and the Federal Network Agency should be authorized to make specifications. The main agricultural use must also be clarified in analogy to Agri-PV. In this context, the concept should be usable in both the subsidized and PPA sectors, he said.

Signed the paper, which is available on the Internet , were Arge Netz, Wattmanufactur, Baywa Re, East Energy, EnBW, Energiewerk, Enertrag, Eon Solar, GP Joule, Greengo Energy, Juwi, Kumandra Energy, Maxsolar Energy Concepts, Naturstrom, PV Project, Solarpraxis Enineering, Vattenfall and Wattner.

Author: Katia Meyer-Tien