Solar parks can also be used as pastureland

13.03.2026

Source: E & M powernews

The German Association of the New Energy Economy (BNE) has presented a research report. It systematically examines the use of grassland in solar parks for the first time.

The Bundesverband Neue Energiewirtschaft (BNE) has presented a research report on the agricultural use of ground-mounted photovoltaic systems. The report shows how grassland can be managed in solar parks and what role these areas can play for agriculture and biodiversity. The association presented the results on March 11 at a specialist conference on the agricultural use of solar parks in Berlin.

Germany is planning a significant expansion of photovoltaics on open spaces. A significant proportion of the new installations are to be built on agricultural land. According to the BNE, however, energy production and agricultural use are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, the land could continue to be farmed as grassland. In addition to electricity production, this would create additional habitat for various animal and plant species.

PV industry alliance with livestock farmers

Solar park operators are dependent on farmers who maintain and manage the areas, the association explained. However, there has been a lack of scientific data on the quality and quantity of biomass in the systems to date. The BNE therefore supported a research project on the vegetation and cultivation of solar park areas.

Over a period of 18 months, Dina Hamidi from the Georg August University in Göttingen and Christoph Hütt from the University of Cologne examined the vegetation in several solar parks. Among other things, the researchers analyzed which plant species occur in different places within the plants, how grazing animals move around the areas and the nutrient content of the plants growing there.

Among other things, they used LiDAR technology for the measurements. They used a laser scanner, which can be used as a mobile device or attached to a drone, to record the plant growth in the fields. According to the research report, this made it possible to precisely measure the biomass in the solar parks, even in areas under the solar modules.

Nutrients grow sufficiently

According to the scientists involved, the investigations show that the vegetation in solar parks provides sufficient nutrients for grazing with sheep and cattle. Differences were found depending on the location within the plants. Plants under the modules showed a higher diversity of species and a higher protein content. In contrast, the amount of biomass between the rows of modules tended to be higher.

In addition to the vegetation, the research team also analyzed the behaviour of sheep in solar parks. According to the report, this showed that the animals spent more time in the shade of the modules at higher temperatures. This effect could become more important in view of rising temperatures as a result of climate change.

The Managing Director of the BNE, Robert Busch, sees the results as an indication of the agricultural potential of ground-mounted photovoltaic systems. If operators want well-maintained solar parks, agriculture must be more closely involved, explained Busch. Until now, there has been hardly any data on which plants grow in the systems or whether the feed quality is sufficient for grazing animals. The new studies would partially close this knowledge gap.

Positive effects for grazing animals

From the BNE's point of view, the results show that grassland in solar parks is generally suitable for grazing. According to Busch, the animals benefit in two ways: the modules offer protection from the sun and weather, while at the same time a diverse vegetation grows.

The association therefore recommends considering the management of solar park areas more in an agricultural context. The new data on the quality of vegetation and the behavior of grazing animals argues in favour of expanding agricultural use in such facilities. According to the BNE, this form of land use should be recognized as agriculture - in addition to concepts of agrivoltaics, in which agricultural production and electricity generation are technically combined.

According to the association, the recently published report brings together several scientific publications from the project. Further publications by the researchers involved are planned for the coming months.

The ESD study on Agri-PV is available to download as a PDF.

Author: Susanne Harmsen