They have calculated the potential of agrivoltaics. Solar panels can generate electricity even in fields.

Agricultural land interspersed with photovoltaic panels in a way that does not hinder crop cultivation or even improves conditions for plants. This is what 'agrivoltaics' or 'agrophotovoltaics' looks like, which is already being implemented in practice in neighboring Austria and the Czech Republic.

According to a new analysis by the energy think tank Ember, farmers in Central Europe could increase the yields of some types of fruit by up to 16% and earn 1,268 euros per hectare of wheat by combining crop cultivation with solar panels. The authors of the study, Paweł Czyżak and Tatiana Mindeková, included all four V4 countries — Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia — in their comparison.

The whole concept revolves around the idea that agrivoltaics allows farmers to gain an additional source of income from electricity sales while keeping the land for agricultural purposes. When panels are placed appropriately, agrivoltaics can also increase the yield of some types of crops, according to studies.

"It also improves water retention in case of drought and protects crops from extreme weather fluctuations. For plants that prefer shade, it can offer significant benefits," state P. Czyżak and T. Mindeková.

The analysis (the full version of which can be downloaded via the link at the end of the article) shows that agrivoltaics over raspberries increases yields by 16% while generating 63% of the electricity that a traditional solar farm would produce. The study also highlights that using just nine percent of the agrivoltaics potential would still cover the energy consumption of agriculture.

"We are witnessing more frequent droughts and extreme weather fluctuations, and agrivoltaics can help protect crops. Installing solar panels in combination with agricultural production can also stabilize farmers' incomes," says P. Czyżak.

**Electricity is expected to offset crop losses**

While partial shading may benefit some crops, many other types of crops could suffer from a lack of sunlight. Farmers who choose agrivoltaics will face reduced crop yields due to the solar panels. Wheat and oats, for example, are sensitive to shading.

However, vertical solar panels, according to Ember's researchers, maintain crop losses under 20% due to the large distances between the rows and allow the use of agricultural machinery. The analysis shows that the income from selling electricity generated by the solar panels more than offsets the predicted crop losses.

"A case study from Poland shows that combining solar panels with wheat cultivation can yield twelve times the income per hectare compared to growing wheat alone. This means a potential annual profit of 1,268 euros per hectare from the combined sale of electricity and wheat. For farmers, this combination could represent a more stable business model, as wheat production alone (without agrivoltaics) can be unprofitable," the study's authors conclude.

**The potential is estimated at 191 TWh per year**

According to the analysis, Central Europe theoretically has enormous potential for agrivoltaics. The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia account for one-fifth (19%) of the EU's arable land. The analysis estimates that 180 GW of agrivoltaics could be installed in these countries, while the current total solar capacity is 25 GW.

In Slovakia, the study estimates a potential of 2.6 GW for crops whose yields could be increased by agrivoltaics and an additional 8.6 GW for crops that are tolerant to shading.

"Electricity production from agrivoltaics in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia could reach 191 TWh per year. That's ten times the annual electricity consumption of agriculture and food production in the region (17 TWh), so farmers could sell the excess electricity to national grids," the study's authors state.

On the other hand, the analysis does not go into detail about the timeline for consumption and production or the available grid capacity. In real-world agrivoltaic use, farmers must address what to do with the electricity produced when solar panels are generating it, while also needing energy during nighttime hours when agrivoltaics will not supply any. Partial solutions may include physical or virtual batteries, energy sharing, and energy communities.

**Experience already exists**

According to the authors of the analysis, more than 200 agrivoltaic projects have been realized in Europe so far. Most of these are in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands, where regulations allow for land to be used for both agricultural purposes and electricity production without losing subsidies.

"A recent survey shows that now more than 70% of farmers in Germany are ready to implement agrivoltaics to stabilize their financial conditions and secure their harvest," the study's authors report.

In contrast to these countries, Central Europe lacks regulations supporting agrivoltaic development, with the exception of the Czech Republic. Agricultural land used for solar energy production is excluded from subsidies and is no longer used for food production.

"Agrivoltaics bring the benefits of the energy transition to farmers, but regulation is urgently needed to help farmers experiment with new business models," says P. Czyżak.

Tomáš Brýdl, an investor in agrivoltaics in Litomyšl, Czech Republic, says that photovoltaics can help provide shade for plants, protecting them from both extreme rainfall and excessive sunlight. Semi-transparent solar panels can thus replace other forms of protection, such as protective nets.

"After two years of development, research, and gaining experience from our pilot project in Okrasné Školky Litomyšl, we can confirm this. However, for the wider use of these agrivoltaic systems, we see the biggest challenge in selling the produced electricity at market-appropriate prices, so that investors can achieve meaningful returns," he warns.

Jiří Bím, head of the agrivoltaics section at the Czech Solar Association, claims that the Czech Republic has one of the best laws for agrivoltaics in Europe, born from close collaboration between the state, the sector, and farmers. "However, the full potential will only be realized when vertical panel installation is allowed, which the government plans to do in later steps, though we see no reason to wait," he says.

According to Martin Sedlák, program director of the Union of Modern Energy, agriculture in Central Europe will increasingly be exposed to the effects of climate change. He sees agrivoltaics as part of the solution. "Thanks to agrivoltaics, farmers can gain a tool to partially protect themselves from unpredictable weather. Solar panels placed, for example, in orchards, above blueberry plantations, or vineyards, can protect crops from too intense summer sunlight, hail, or unexpected frosts that could threaten the harvest."

Pavel Mikuš, a representative of an agrivoltaic project in Hodonín, highlights a project launched in May of this year on a 2,000 m² plot of land that was revitalized after oil extraction. "Under the photovoltaic panels, we planted 1,500 seedlings of Riesling and Donauriesling varieties.

"Based on our experience, there is no evidence that the photovoltaic installation negatively affects the growth of the seedlings compared to similarly planted vineyards outside the FVE. We were also able to use machinery to prepare the soil between the rows and seedlings without any issues. However, during the construction of the photovoltaic structure, care must be taken to avoid excessive soil compaction by construction machinery," he explains. He also emphasizes that photovoltaic panels must be installed in a way that prevents water from dripping directly onto the row of seedlings but into the grass between the rows to prevent soil erosion.