RWE's groundbreaking agrivoltaics (Agri-PV) plant in Germany has officially commenced supplying green electricity to the grid, achieving this milestone in an impressive five-month construction period. Nestled on approximately seven hectares of repurposed land at the edge of the Garzweiler opencast mine in North Rhine-Westphalia, the demonstration plant is a pioneering blend of crop cultivation and solar power generation.

This innovative project seeks to underscore the potential synergy between agriculture and solar power. Over the next five years, the site will be a hub for essential research activities, exploring cultivation methods and operational concepts for Agri-PV systems. Collaborating institutions include the Institute for Plant Sciences at Forschungszentrum Jülich and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, with financial support from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia through the progres.nrw program for climate protection and the energy transition.

With a peak capacity of 3.2 megawatts, the demonstration plant incorporates three unique Agri-PV concepts, allowing for both agricultural and horticultural use of the land. These configurations involve fixed vertical solar modules, sun-tracking modules, and raised photovoltaic modules on a pergola-like substructure. The interaction between plant growth and photovoltaic technology will be closely monitored across various seasonal weather conditions.

In the upcoming spring, the initiation of research activities will include planting the first seedlings. The project aims to showcase the feasibility and benefits of integrating agriculture and solar energy, opening avenues for sustainable and efficient land use practices.

Source: solarquarter.com