Skip to main content

European Energy to research agrivoltaic potential

Published by , Editor
Energy Global,


A new large research project will investigate the potential of agrivoltaic, a multifunctional agricultural system that combines crop production with solar energy production. The project, which will be developed in collaboration with European Energy, Aarhus University, Copenhagen University, and Slagelse Municipality, is co-financed by the Innovation Fund with DKK 22.8 million.

The demand for renewable energy has led to an increase in solar panel installation on agricultural land, despite the fact that agricultural land is a limited resource that must also meet the world’s rapidly increasing food needs. Agrivoltaic involves the installation of solar panels over agricultural land so that crops can be grown and cultivated rationally under the panel, while renewable energy is generated. This system has the potential to maintain food production on a larger scale in a world affected by climate change while ensuring renewable energy production. However, there are still many technical and economic challenges associated with agrivoltaic that this project aims to address.

The project will explore the potential benefits of agrivoltaic, including renewable energy and food production on the same area, intensive use of field robots, increased biodiversity, the technical and economic viability of the system, and the acceptance of farmers and the surrounding community. The project will include the installation of a 2-ha. pilot plant on a typical eastern Danish agricultural area, investigate the potential and challenges of growing crops in the plant, and monitor its performance over a five-year period.

“We are excited to participate in this project to develop and mature the potential of agricultural and energy production, thus establishing a solid foundation for future larger projects. This project is an important step towards developing more sustainable and integrated approaches to food and energy production,” said Mads Lykke Andersen, Head of Solar Energy Innovation at European Energy.

“The current energy crisis and high energy prices have led to an increase in the installation of solar panels on agricultural land. This happens despite the fact that agricultural land is a limited resource that must also feed the world’s rapidly increasing food needs,” added Johannes Ravn Jørgensen, a lecturer at Aarhus University.

“In this project, we have the opportunity to uncover the potential for producing energy and food in an advanced agrivoltaic setup, using field robots. A strong focus for us has been that the newly established agrivoltaic systems must also contribute to increased biodiversity,” he continued.

“The interest from farmers and landowners in agrivoltaic systems is great. But we lack knowledge about whether agrivoltaic systems can create a better economy for both the individual farmer and the surrounding community. The agrivoltaic project will give us an exciting new opportunity to investigate this,” commented Søren Marcus Peder-sen, a lecturer at Copenhagen University.

“We need more green energy – both here in Slagelse and the rest of the world. That’s why I’m proud that we in Slagelse Municipality are taking the lead and providing land for research that can help develop new sustainable solutions that combine food and energy production. It is both an opportunity to help solve a societal problem while also supporting knowledge-based jobs in the municipality,” stated Mayor in Slagelse Municipality Knud Vincents.

The project starts in April 2023, and the installation of the pilot plant at AU Flakkebjerg in Slagelse Municipality is planned for later in the year. Construction of the agrivoltaic can commence when a rural zoning permit is obtained, and a decision is expected within the coming weeks, followed by a four-week appeal period.

 

 

For more news and technical articles from the global renewable industry, read the latest issue of Energy Global magazine.

Energy Global's Spring 2023 issue

The Spring 2023 issue of Energy Global hosts an array of technical articles focusing on offshore wind, solar technology, energy storage, green hydrogen, waste-to-energy, and more. This issue also features a regional report on commodity challenges facing Asia’s energy transition.

Read the article online at: https://www.energyglobal.com/solar/01052023/european-energy-to-research-agrivoltaic-potential/

You might also like

 
 

Embed article link: (copy the HTML code below):