Agri-PV systems

According to DIN SPEC 91434, agri-PV systems are generally understood to be the combined use of one and the same area of land for agricultural production as the main use and electricity production by means of a photovoltaic system as a secondary use, whereby agricultural production can include arable land, permanent grassland and permanent pasture land or permanent crops and at the same time a distinction must be made between low and high elevated systems. In order to scientifically investigate the effects of agri-PV systems on nature and landscape, six case studies are selected on the basis of a systematisation of agri-PV systems and subjected to ecological monitoring over a period of three years. The study focusses in particular on the effects on flora and fauna and the landscape, but also includes climatic or pedological effects if these are relevant for flora and fauna and the landscape.

The research questions are:

• Biotopes: What is the quality of the biotope types under agrivoltaic systems and how should they be categorised? Is a significant devaluation of the original biotopes to be expected when installing an agrivoltaic plant? To what extent are growing conditions restricted under agrivoltaic systems? Which measures associated with agrivoltaic systems can be associated with a significant enhancement?
• Species: For which species or species groups is the construction of an agrivoltaic plant associated with significant habitat loss? Are there species for which agrivoltaic systems increase the risk of being killed? Which measures associated with agrivoltaic systems can be associated with a significant ecological enhancement for selected species/species groups?
• Soil: To what extent do agrivoltaic systems lead to a significant reduction in wind and water erosion? How high is the soil loss due to sealing/support?
• Climate/water: How great is the reduction in global radiation and temperature maxima due to agrivoltaic systems? How do agrivoltaic systems change the pattern of precipitation reaching the soil and subsequently the water balance? What effect do agrivoltaic systems have in heavy rainfall situations?
• Landscape: To what extent are agrivoltaic systems visible? How significant is the impact on the landscape with the different combinations?
• Compared to ground-mounted PV systems: In relation to which impact pathways do agrivoltaic systems have significantly different, higher or lower impacts on nature and landscape?
• In relation to relevant influencing factors: To what extent do the impacts depend on the area size of the agrivoltaic system? Which impacts are caused by the PV system and which by the respective form of agricultural management? Which effects are to be expected more frequently/more intensively in certain types of landscape than in others?
• Differentiation from conventional agriculture: How can the effects of an agrivoltaic system be differentiated from those of conventional agriculture, which does not constitute an intervention in nature and the landscape?

In parallel, accompanying studies are being carried out on the economic viability of agrivoltaic systems. The results of the project are recommendations for the environmentally compatible design of agrivoltaic systems.