The European Green Deal sets out to achieve a full transformation of our economy, society, and natural environment. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has affirmed that ensuring a climate-friendly food and agricultural system will be at the core of the European Green Deal, creating a unique opportunity for the development of agricultural photovoltaic installations known as Agri-PV.
Agri-PV refers to technical solutions that combine agricultural infrastructure and solar PV. These innovative technologies can optimise agricultural land use, provide new revenue streams for rural communities, and enable the adaptation of EU agriculture to help combat climate change.
In this context, SolarPower Europe is proud to launch a new Agri-PV workstream, chaired by the French IPP Amarenco, which will support the association through its vast experience in the development of Agri-PV projects.
Alain Desvignes, CEO of Amarenco, said: “Solar can play a major role in supporting the agricultural transition, however, it is essential that sustainable Agri-PV infrastructure, practices, and policies are developed so that agricultural activities and electricity generation mutually benefit from this new technology. Through this workstream, we will place Agri-PV high in the European agricultural policy agenda and will drive the uptake of Agri-PV solutions across Europe by focusing on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and the Farm to Fork Strategy. Through sharing knowledge and best practices between the Agri-PV sector and agricultural experts, the EU can take the lead on Agri-PV technologies and set a global standard for this solar application.”
Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe, said: “Solar power technologies and agriculture can go hand-in-hand. Indeed, Agri-PV has the potential to generate a ‘triple win’ scenario: higher crop yields, reduced water usage, and the provision of renewable electricity. This is a highly innovative technology that can be adapted to any geography, including islands, as well as in dry climates, where Agri-PV retains humidity for crops, which creates micro-ecosystems that optimise food supply. This is what a climate-neutral Europe looks like, where local agriculture and low-cost solar power drive a sustainable European economy.”
The first Agri-PV workstream kick-off meeting will take place in the beginning of April 2020.
