Neiße-Aue, 15 September 2025
Georg-Ludwig von Breitenbuch, Saxony’s State Minister for the Environment and Agriculture, opened the Krauscha agrivoltaics park with a ceremonial speech. In front of numerous guests from politics, science, agriculture and many local residents, he emphasised the importance of the project for the region.
The new solar park is a real pioneering project: with an output of 1.8 MWp, it is the first large-scale vertical photovoltaic plant in Saxony – and even in the whole of eastern Germany. The plant was realised according to the vertical bifacial Agri-PV concept of the Next2Sun Group, in cooperation with Tiger Energy. Next2Sun specialises in the combination of energy generation and agricultural use, the company is regarded as a technological pioneer in the field of agrivoltaics and is setting new standards for sustainable land use with this project.
Thanks to the vertical arrangement of the solar modules, over 90 % of the area remains available for agricultural use with conventional technology. In Krauscha, this area will continue to be used for organic farming with a focus on seed propagation. The row spacing of 10.5 metres allows unrestricted cultivation with agricultural machinery.
Saxony’s Environment and Agriculture Minister Georg-Ludwig von Breitenbuch: “With agrivoltaic systems, it is possible to grow regional food and generate solar energy on the same area. This opens up additional income and employment opportunities for farmers, as the farms can get involved in energy production themselves. This contributes to value creation in the region and to strengthening rural areas. In addition, the PV modules create a favourable microclimate for flora and fauna, provide shade and help to reduce evaporation on the land, thereby reducing the need for water. I would like to thank the project participants who have made the first commercial agrivoltaics system in eastern Germany possible here on the Krauscha estate and are breaking new ground in sustainable management.”
Hans Joachim Mautschke, owner of the Krauscha estate and initiator of the project, expressed his enthusiasm: “This plant is extremely important for us, as it secures our existence in times of climate change and declining yields. The double harvest of agricultural yield and energy generation is essential for the survival of our farm.” During the opening ceremony, he personally demonstrated how agriculture and photovoltaics harmonise perfectly on his site.
The power generation also follows an intelligent concept: the vertical alignment of the modules ensures increased power production at off-peak times – i.e. in the morning and evening. The system is supplemented by a battery storage system with a capacity of 0.5 MW, which makes the energy supply even more flexible and needs-orientated.
With the Krauscha agrivoltaics park, the Next2Sun Group is demonstrating how innovative energy concepts and productive agriculture can strengthen each other – a model with appeal far beyond the region. Heiko Hildebrandt, CEO of Next2Sun AG, emphasises the potential here: “The opening today is an important step for the region. The park stands for innovation in Saxony and shows how agriculture and the energy transition can be successfully organised together.”
