Featured in Fruits of our labour – 03-2021

Raspberry PV protects the crop and avoids waste

An agrivoltaic project in the Netherlands demonstrates the compatibility of solar PV power generation and raspberry cultivation. The solar roof protects the plants, saves the farmers work, and only has a minimal impact on the harvest.

By

Cornelia Lichner

09 Mar 2021

Delivery commitments and high-quality standards on the part of customers mean that more and more berries and other types of fruit are growing under the protection of films and nets. Agrivoltaics can replace some of these protective measures with permanent installations, while still generating electricity and providing additional income – even out of season. | Image: BayWa r.e.

Gone are the days when blueberries, raspberries, and boysenberries were a tasty snack reserved for diligent pickers browsing secret hunting grounds along forest edges. Indeed, for years, berries of all kinds have featured among the bestsellers for resourceful farmers. Planted in fields, they are available year-round in supermarkets, and their growth rates continue to …

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