Agrivoltaics

Global agriculture faces the challenge of adapting to more sustainable production models, while green energy generation is becoming increasingly crucial in combating climate change and driving the energy transition. This dual need calls for the optimal use of land, including agricultural areas.

Agrivoltaics (Agri-PV) offers an innovative solution that integrates these objectives. Agri-PV systems consist of photovoltaic installations on agricultural land, combining solar energy production with farming activities. This approach creates a sustainable synergy, optimising land use and supporting the transition to a greener future.

RWE has commissioned its first two commercial-scale advanced agrivoltaic (Agri-PV) projects globally in Italy: Morcone (9.8 MWac) and Acquafredda (9.3 MWac), both located in the province of Benevento, in the Campania region. Building on this milestone, RWE is currently constructing four additional Agri-PV projects across Campania, Sicily, and Calabria, representing a combined installed capacity of 38.2 MW.

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Agrivoltaics projects involve the use of panels mounted on fixed elevated structures or trackers to cater to the needs of crops and livestock.

Crops are grown directly under the panels, creating an integrated system that combines energy and agricultural production while improving land use.

In addition to producing energy from renewable sources, the panels also offer practical benefits for crops. In the summer they reduce soil heat, lowering water needs and irrigation costs, while in the winter they protect plants from extreme weather events such as hail, frost, and heavy rain. The performance of the systems, including weather conditions and agricultural results, will be monitored by RWE to improve and further develop this innovative technology.

RWE invests years of research to optimise the agrivoltaics technology through a demonstration plant located in the Rhenish mining area in Germany, next to the Garzweiler opencast mine near Bedburg. The project is being conducted with scientific support from the Institute of Plant Sciences at Forschungszentrum Jülich and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems.

This pilot plant allows RWE to explore the potential of the technology and to refine it, addressing crucial issues such as the selection of the most suitable crops and the optimal design of photovoltaic systems. In addition to the technical aspects, the project also explores models of collaboration with farmers, providing a solid foundation for maximising the potential of agrivoltaics and promoting its large-scale adoption.