The aim of the first implementation phase of the »Model Region Agrivoltaics for Baden-Württemberg« project is to drive expansion of agrivoltaic technology in Baden-Württemberg. The focus in the first phase, which was led by Fraunhofer ISE and involved 13 project partners, was on pome fruit and soft fruit. Agrivoltaic facilities with a total peak power output of up to 1,700 kWp were installed at five sites in Baden-Württemberg.

The PV systems in Kressbronn and Bavendorf were installed in 2022, and those in Oberkirch-Nußbach and Heuchlingen in 2023. The last PV systems was installed in 2024 in Augustenberg. A framework programme, under the joint leadership of the University of Public Administration Kehl and Fraunhofer ISE, was launched to connect the sub-projects and exploit synergies.

The project looked at the feasibility of various aspects at different sites, including crop-specific aspects of the photovoltaic system and the choice of crop and variety, and developed a more nuanced conception of the legal framework. The agricultural research is being conducted by Landwirtschaftliches Technologiezentrum Augustenberg (LTZ Augustenberg), a state institute for agriculture in Baden-Württemberg, Kompetenzzentrum Obstbau Bodensee (KOB Bavendorf), a foundation for the promotion of fruit growing in the Lake Constance region, and Staatliche Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt für Wein- und Obstbau (LVWO Weinsberg), a state training and research institute for wine- and fruit-growing. The project was funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry for the Environment, Climate and Energy Sector and the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Food, Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection.

The second implementation phase started in January 2025. The aim is to continue the research at KOB Bavendorf (apples), LTZ Augustenberg (apples, pears and plums) and LVWO Weinsberg (soft fruit and sweet cherries) and investigate the potential of agrivoltaics in combination with specialty crops, while also broadening the focus to other types of agriculture. Six more pilot projects in Baden-Württemberg (Walldürn-Neusaß, Ihinger Hof, Blankenhornsberg, Schöntal and Uttenweiler, Meßkirch and five permanent grassland sites) were integrated into the project and will also be scientifically monitored and evaluated. In addition, the project will intensify efforts to develop a plant/power-optimising tracking algorithm.

The primary goal of the project is to answer questions about dual land use for agriculture and solar power generation. By developing and studying pilot plants at five sites with different fruit crops (first implementation phase) and studying PV systems in combination with permanent grassland, arable farming, conifers, laying hens and winegrowing (second implementation phase), the project will investigate the feasibility of various promising areas of application, technologies and configuration options. The plan is to identify systems that will work for several different crops or varieties.

Additional aims

• To create synergies between the individual sites
• To investigate promising fields of application and technologies (tracking algorithm) and configuration options
• To study the effects of varying shade regimes on the growth and ecophysiology of the crop plants
• To research the impacts of crop protection products on thePV modules and substructures
• To produce handbooks for farmers and regulatory authorities

In its coalition agreement, the state government of Baden-Württemberg has set itself the goal of establishing agrivoltaics as an efficient form of land use and promoting its potential, particularly for specialised crops. To achieve this goal, it plans to support the construction of more pilot plants.

To evaluate the options for promoting pilot plants, at the end of 2020 the state commissioned Fraunhofer ISE to work with five agricultural research institutes – Kompetenzzentrum Obstbau Bodensee Bavendorf (KOB Bavendorf), Landwirtschaftliches Technologiezentrum Augustenberg (LTZ Augustenberg), Staatliches Weinbauinstitut Freiburg (WBI), Staatliche Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt für Wein- und Obstbau Weinsberg (LVWO Weinsberg) and the University of Hohenheim (UHOH) – to carry out a feasibility study to identify possible research and demonstration sites for agrivoltaics in Baden-Württemberg.

The results of this study were presented at the end of July 2021. It evaluated 11 sites in terms of regional planning, agricultural and technical aspects and financing options. And it identified the most relevant and promising agricultural applications for rolling out agrivoltaics and specified suitable PV technologies.

Five of these plants were planned, built and studied in the first implementation phase of the project, which ran to 2024.

Accelerating climate change is possibly the greatest challenge that humanity has ever faced. Once dismissed as an abstract vision of the future, the catastrophic impacts of global warming are now painfully visible. The state of Baden-Württemberg has recognised this existential threat and is pursuing a number of ambitious measures to advance Germany’s federal energy transition policy. However, there are challenges associated with this vital project, especially for a country with a relatively small land area like Germany. Renewable energy production from photovoltaic modules takes up large areas, which means the energy industry is already competing with agriculture for available land.

In agriculture, specialty crops are those that are particularly labour- and capital-intensive to grow. These include, fruit, vegetables and grapes, but also flowers and ornamental plants, nursery trees, hops, tobacco and mushrooms. These are products for which farmers generate a relatively high value from a relatively small area of land, compared with arable farming.

An agrivoltaic plant is a protective structure similar to the hail nets that have been used as standard weather protection in commercial horticulture for decades. Besides generating power, PV modules offer permanent, durable protection and lead to improvements in the following crop condition parameters:

• hail protection
• sun protection
• evaporation protection
• frost protection
• rain protection
  
  

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References

Thalheimer, F. (2018). Baden-Württemberg: Land der Sonderkulturen. Statistisches Monatsheft Baden-Württemberg

Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) direct payments regulation - January 2025

Section 12 (5) of the German regulation on CAP direct payments (GAPDZV) of 1 January 2025 lifts the restriction on subsidising no more than 85% of agricultural land on which an agrivotaic system is erected, provided:

• It does not prevent cultivation of the land using regular agricultural methods, machines and equipment.
• The agrivoltaic system does not reduce the usable agricultural area by more than 15% (the basis for DIN SPEC 91434:2021-05).

In short: From 2025 onwards, higher CAP direct payments are possible for areas with agrivoltaic facilities, provided they meet the conditions listed above. Previously, farmers in Germany could only receive subsidies for up to 85% of their farm land.

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References

buzer.de (2025). Änderung § 12 GAPDZV vom 01.01.2025. Link

Before construction

In the planning phase, a geotechnical survey establishes the soil texture and type. The result of this investigation provides the basis for the static calculation for the thickness and depth of the posts and the stability of the substructure.

During construction

When building PV plants on agricultural land, steps must be taken to preserve the soil quality. The use of heavy machinery to erect the plants can compact the soil and reduce root growth. The following points should be considered:

• Construction should be planned for the dry summer months when the soil is more stable and the soil particles are harder to move.
• Construction planning should be flexible enough to adapt in response to precipitation events.
• Where possible, construction vehicles should use permanent tracks that will continue to be driven on frequently during subsequent farming operations.
• Setting up a transport plan before construction starts will help reduce unnecessary traffic. If possible, the machinery (cranes) should be operated from the headland.
• Construction firms should be aware of the risk of soil compaction and have lightweight vehicles with adapted tyres.
• A vegetation cover of grass or clover or mobile roadways can help protect the soil during construction work.

After construction

• Ploughing the soil and cultivating deep-rooted catch crops help restore the soil after the PV plant has been installed.
  
  

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References

Steinbauer & Rühmer (2022). Doppelnutzung mit Agri-PV-Anlagen: Erste Erfahrungen aus der Steiermark. poma

Stöppler, Grieb & Fritz (2023). Agri-Photovoltaik Leitfaden. TFZ

Projekt "HyPErFarm". Recommendations to avoid soil compaction during the installation of agrivoltaic systems. Practice abstracts

Wild & Schueller (2023). Challenges in the Planning, Construction and Farming Practices in Agrivoltaic Systems With Vertically Mounted Panels. AgriVoltaics World Conference 2023