Agrivoltaics

Solar energy is growing rapidly across Europe and is becoming an increasingly important factor in agriculture. Thanks to their flexibility, solar systems can be perfectly combined with different types of agriculture, from livestock farming and low-growing crops such as cereals to orchards and greenhouses. Agrivoltaics combines the production of solar energy with agricultural production on a common area, thus ensuring a more efficient use of land.  

Building on more than 20 years of experience in the solar energy sector, Q ENERGY covers the entire value chain of agrivoltaic projects: from project development to engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) all the way to operation and maintenance (O&M) and financing. Q ENERGY constantly adapts to the different legal frameworks for agrivoltaics in each country and develops tailor-made solutions.

While the two smaller pilot systems demonstrate completely new and innovative ways of combining solar power generation and agriculture, there are other variants that have already been proven on a large scale. Q ENERGY is currently planning a number of agri-PV projects using ground-based tracker solar systems.  

The solar modules are installed on agricultural land in such a way that lower crops such as cereals, rape, beet, vegetables and berries can be grown between the rows or grazing animals can be kept. This version of Agri-PV, with larger row spacing and pivoting modules, is also well suited for installation on permanent grassland and is technically very similar to a conventional ground-mounted solar system. The system is based on proven technology that reliably produces green electricity. At the same time, the tiltable modules provide the largest possible operating radius for agricultural machinery.

• Agrivoltaics offers multiple income streams on one site: agricultural income + reliable long-term rental income from solar power generation.
   
• Many EU countries support agrivoltaics through national funding programmes.
   
• EU subsidies (CAP funding) are largely maintained.
   
• Crops are protected from excessive solar radiation, heavy rain, hail and soil erosion, and soil evaporation is reduced.
   
• Optimal conditions for livestock grazing and permanent grassland.

In 2021, Q ENERGY built an agrivoltaic pilot project in the French region of Pays de la Loire, which was specifically designed for hop growing. In close cooperation with a local farmer, two structures were built with 52 bifacial solar modules and climbing aids for the hops. Since then, 72 plants and six different hop varieties have been tested to see which combination produces the best yields.  

The results are promising for use on a larger scale, as not only the climbing aids but also the additional shade provided by the modules create ideal conditions for the plants.

This was followed in the summer of 2022 by another pilot plant for hydro-voltaics with an installed capacity of 9.3 KW. In collaboration with the start-up company Aquacosy, Q ENERGY has now combined solar energy production with hydroponics. In this cultivation system, plants are grown without soil, using only water-based mineral nutrient solutions. Rainwater is collected under the solar panels and pumped directly into the growing cycle. The system not only saves water resources but also protects the plants from frost, heat and wind. It can be installed almost anywhere and enables natural, diversified and dense production on less land. Again, the test results are very promising, both in terms of agricultural yields and in terms of extending the growing season.