AgriPV for farmers and open land owners

You must keep around 0.5 metres away from the module rows. Grassland management can be up to 20 centimetres from the module row posts, if the tractor has onboard GPS support.

This far our systems have only been used for grassland farming. Farming machinery for this is equipped with suitable rubber lips, reducing the risk of flying stones to a minimum.

We have not yet identified any module damage following the mowing process. During the prototype phase, we deliberately provoked flying stones (including for potential installation next to roads) and no damage was detected.

In general, we agree in advance with farmers that they will not have to pay for small amounts of damage (e.g. up to 1000 euros).

The vertical orientation makes it difficult for soiling to be deposited and has a self-cleaning effect when it rains – a key advantage over a conventional system. The soiling level is of course heavily dependent on the type and scope of dual use. With grassland farming, numerous years of experience show that the modules do not need to be cleaned. The plant growth directly beneath the module rows simply has to be cut back once a year to prevent shading. Further investigations will show whether cleaning is required with intensive crop cultivation – however, we do not expect the cleaning requirements to be any higher than with conventional systems.

As for conventional PV systems, we have to install a fence around our system. This is required by insurance. However, we can install the vertical system as a fence. This avoids additional fence structures, making agriculture use easier.

AgriPV systems, like conventional PV systems, do not have privileged status outdoors. This means that in this segment as well, from a certain planned size, a development plan must be drawn up with parallel changes to the land area use plan. The low overbuilding of the area and the environmental upgrading and structuring of the area with grass strips below the modules offers benefits in terms of offset requirements – this is usually not required. In addition, another benefit of vertical bifacial systems is that the row orientation can be freely chosen, enabling optimisations as regards landscape and potential glare effects.

In the development plan, the area between the module rows is generally set as agricultural land. In Germany and other European countries (AUT, LU etc.), there are regulations stating that the farmer retains the key area payment for the majority of spaces within agriphotovoltaics systems. The milestone in Germany will be the implementation of GAP – the Direct Payment Implementation Ordinance – from the 2023 claim year, stating that 85% of the area within agriPV continues to be agricultural and will receive EU subsidies. The remaining 15% of the premium rights come from the operators of Next2Sun systems, by agreement.

Practical testing from recent years has shown that slight shading changes the agricultural yield in row space. During dry years this can result in increased yields (especially in grassland) due to a higher level of water being available to the plants. In damp and less sunny years, the shade could theoretically also reduce yields to an extent (particularly for crop cultivation). These effects could be stronger in more shaded areas (near to the modules). Further investigations will be conducted into this in coming years.

GPS-supported control for agricultural machinery is advisable within a Next2Sun agriPV system, as it enables the entire length to be worked at an optimum distance from the module row.

The string inverters are integrated into the vertical frame system. In addition, only transformer stations (approx. 2.5 x 3 m) are required above ground on the site. The power is transported from there to the grid connection point via an underground cable.

Currently, a lawnmower or grass trimmer is used to mow beneath the module rows. This involves high staffing costs, which we want to reduce in the future via tests with a cane cleaner. This device comes from orchard and vineyard cultivation and will automatically fold round the posts to mow. Mowing is performed once or twice a year.

Practical experience from recent years has shown that dirt and dust is cleaned off vertical modules very well by rainfall.

First of all, it should be noted that any intrusion on the landscape with overbuilding and/or sealing of the ground must be counterbalanced. As the overbuilding of up to 5% the area (actually just 1% by the agriPV itself) with the vertical system concept is extremely low and the structuring of the agricultural area with grass strips below the modules offers environmental upgrading, all in all the environment in the area is upgraded.

No offsetting measures are generally required with the Next2Sun system concept. These are separate from functional compensation measures, which are considered in individual cases. These include measures to avoid glare effects and improve landscape integration, as well as to balance the habitats of individual bird species.

There has not yet been a final assessment of whether flower and grass strips are eligible for funding (e.g. Under EU greening measures or agri-environmental schemes).

The maximum building density is 15%. In addition, it must still be possible to work the area using standard agricultural methods, machinery and equipment.

Yes, all agricultural products coming from the area can be used.

We have had cattle grazing in our testing facility for two years. In our system, the cable wires are all run in the U-rail (middle crossbeam), ensuring that they are very well protected. Only the inverters require technical protection. This is generally achieved using a simple pasture fence stretched around the inverter. Horses behave similarly to cattle and do not pose a problem for the system. Projects have already been implemented in situations like these in Austria.

Thus far we only have experience with grassland farming. In the future, we are planning to establish research projects examining crops. However, we expect potatoes, various types of beets, carrots, legumes, special crops (with the exception of maize) and low-growing cereals (approx. 1 metre) to be very compatible with our system.