Agriculture

A new study finds that biodiversity increases significantly on farmland converted to solar parks, though the pace and extent of improvement depend on local conditions.

ZCS Azzurro is presenting high-voltage batteries for three-phase storage systems and hybrid inverters for energy independence in the home.

Farmers can mount the modules directly onto the existing weather protection. The foils and hail nets remain in place. When they are not needed, the farmer stows them beneath the modules.

The new Luna2000 ESS series from Huawei Fusionsolar offers flexible storage capacities of 107, 161 and 215 kilowatt hours and ensures maximum efficiency with a charging and discharging capacity of up to 108 kilowatts.

The agricultural solar project in Austria attracted significant local interest, with the community quickly contributing to its funding goal.

To mitigate land use conflicts between agriculture and photovoltaics, researchers at the University of Sheffield have been investigating the abundant potential of combining the two.

This edition of the Special, among other topics, highlights the opportunities that farmers have to utilise land for multiple purposes. You will also find information on technology, insurance and the switch to e-mobility in agriculture.

Photovoltaics have transitioned from a niche technology to a crucial energy source in Central and Eastern Europe. Against a varying political and economic backdrop, rising energy prices, geopolitical risks and decarbonisation are all serving to drive interest.

Soltech’s Spanish subsidiary has completed a floating plant with 1.5 MW of capacity and covering an impressive 9,000 square metres, making it the largest of its kind in the Balearics.

Agrivoltaics combines solar power and agriculture, offering genuinely niche opportunities. Nevertheless, it won't replace traditional solar parks, says Carsten Bovenschen, CEO of Juwi.

Analysts from the Boston Consulting Group and Baywa r.e. have conducted a study to analyse the additional profits possible through agriculture in combination with photovoltaics. They also looked at the specific cash flows during the transition phase.

Wagner Solar presented a new system for the vertical mounting of modules at Energy Decentral. Udo Geisel, Head of Procurement, Production and Logistics at Wagner Solar, explains the advantages of their solution.

The energy provider secured contracts as part of the latest Italian Recovery and Resilience Plan auction. Both agri-PV projects in the Naples region are being developed as tracker systems.

Solar systems are said to better protect the water balance of the soil. Two studies have confirmed this. However, farmers can also actively manage water with a solar system.

SolarPower Europe welcomes the new Farming Strategy of the European Commission. For the first time, the EU recognises the role of solar PV in enhancing energy security, decarbonising the sector and supplementing farmers' income.

A wine grower and farmer built a solar-powered well to supply water for his remote cattle shed. With no grid connection, off-grid solar was the clear solution.

Vertically mounted solar modules offer a smart way to dual-use agricultural land. Marius Sinn, agrivoltaics sales specialist at Next2Sun, explains the benefits and how the systems are installed.

An Austrian developer and green energy plant operator has completed the first in a planned series of hybrid installations. Altogether, the initiative will deliver around 400 megawatts of solar capacity.

Hungary’s renewable energy landscape is poised for a significant boost as Uniper embarks on the construction of two large-scale solar photovoltaic projects. These solar parks are set to inject a combined capacity of 151 megawatts peak into the Hungarian power grid.

Following approval delays, construction of the tracker system only began in late 2024. The project was nevertheless completed on time and will now be subject to scientific monitoring.

In the special Solar Energy for Farmers you can read the latest developments in the field of double-use of farmland and self-sufficiency of farms with energy from the sun.

Manufacturer Winaico presents a new Topcon solar module with 515 watts of power. The WST-515NHX54-A4 is based on heterojunction technology.

The new Special Edition on the decentralised generation and use of solar power in agriculture has been published. It is available to download free of charge.

A solar folding roof for large areas, a solar roof tile with a dragon scale pattern, a home storage unit with up to 66 kilowatt hours and a black module focussed on aesthetics. These are our products of the week.

Sunstyle has added three new colours to its range of solar roof tiles: the manufacturer now offers solar tiles in terracotta orange, red and brown in addition to modules in black and grey.