Agri-PV — Power & Farming on the Same Land

In brief: Agri-PV (agrivoltaics) describes solar installations under which the land continues to be used for agriculture — as arable farming, specialty crops (berries, hops) or grassland. Under the EEG 2024 (Renewable Energy Sources Act), agri-PV installations are classified as "special solar installations" and receive 9.36 ct/kWh (6.86 base + 2.50 bonus). Installations under 1 MWp are eligible for support without going through the auction.

The EEG Tariff in Detail

Sources: agripv-solutions.com, top agrar / BNetzA (Federal Network Agency). The preferential treatment is expressly welcomed by the German Farmers' Association (DBV) and by Fraunhofer ISE (DBV position paper).

Construction Types

• Elevated mounting ("Category I"): modules ≥ 2.10 m above the ground — keeps the land accessible to farm machinery, suited to specialty crops.
• Ground-level rows with wide spacing ("Category II"): conventional mounting, but with rows spaced widely enough that agricultural use remains permanently possible (arable farming, grassland).
• Vertical bifacial rows: modules mounted vertically (east-west orientation), with the full usable area between the rows — popular on arable land.
• Tracker installations over specialty crops: tracking modules on high mounting structures.

What Agri-PV Offers Over Standard Ground-Mounted PV

• Land potential: dual use unlocks agricultural land that would be socially or politically hard to win over for conventional ground-mounted PV.
• Crop protection: the modules act as protection against hail, sun and evaporation — relevant for fruit, wine and sensitive specialty crops.
• Double revenue from the land: electricity + the agricultural product.
• EU agricultural subsidies remain possible with the right design — the land still counts as agricultural utilized area.

4 agri-PV construction types — from elevated mounting to trackers, all to DIN SPEC 91434

Economics in Comparison

The higher tariff (9.36 ct/kWh) partly offsets the added cost of the mounting structure and statics. Pure economics versus standard ground-mounted PV (4–6 ct/kWh from the auction) depend on the installation type, the crop and the specific cost situation. For a rough orientation: LCOE calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I lose EU direct payments if I install agri-PV?

With the correct design as "agricultural utilized area under agri-PV", direct payments are retained — the precondition is continued agricultural use with demonstrable yield. The details are a matter of agricultural policy and vary by federal state — this is a topic for a tax or agricultural advisor.

Who builds and operates agri-PV in Germany?

Specialized developers with an agricultural background, alongside a few large ground-mounted PV developers with their own agri-PV division. We can broker contacts on request.

What does agri-PV cost compared to standard ground-mounted PV?

Investment costs per MWp are typically above standard ground-mounted PV due to the higher mounting structure and statics. The exact extra-cost ratio varies widely — a reliable figure can only be given on a project-specific basis.