EAGER Third Stakeholders Group Meeting in Germany

The third stakeholder meeting for the Interreg Europe Project EAGER was held at Technologie-Zentrum Energie, bringing together diverse stakeholders to discuss key developments and challenges in agrivoltaics (APV) in Germany. Project background information and recent progress, including identified Good Practices, were presented to the stakeholders. Representatives from Siemens Technoparks, Bauernverband Niederbayern, ILE an Rott & Inn, and Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft showed strong interest in the project. They contributed valuable insights and new perspectives, particularly regarding local conditions and future opportunities.

In the meeting, the following points were raised and discussed regarding the integration of APV systems:

1. Field robotics and autonomous farming
   The the potential of autonomous, energy-efficient robots for field management was discussed during the meeting. This brings in a possible future research question: how can agrivoltaics support the development of autonomous, energy-efficient agricultural technologies?
2. Combining 4%-area set-aside with energy production
   With the GLÖZ-8 standard requiring at least 4% of arable land to be set aside (though suspended for 2024), stakeholders examined ways to repurpose these areas for renewable energy generation.
3. Global relevance of APV
   APV is a growing topic of global significance, addressing the increasing demand for renewable energy while maintaining agricultural productivity. Japan serves as a prime example, with 6,000 to 7,000 APV installations on small plots of land. The critical question remains: what constitutes energy production, and what qualifies as agriculture? This distinction is vital for developing appropriate policies.
4. Decentralized energy production and the dual-use of agricultural land
   APV allows for a dual-purpose use of this land, generating renewable energy while continuing agricultural activities. As decentralized energy production becomes more important, a key challenge is determining where the energy is generated. In some cases, agricultural land may be the most profitable and practical location for energy generation.
5. Farmer support and diversification
   Participants emphasized that farmers should have a second source of income to reduce financial risk. APV could serve as this "second pillar" by providing an additional revenue stream through renewable energy production.
6. Challenges of grid connection and storage
   The grid connection remains a significant hurdle for APV, along with the issue of energy storage. While farmers could cover much of their own energy needs through APV, surplus energy storage and the ability to feed it into the grid are critical challenges that need to be addressed.
7. Landscape integration of APV
   The visual impact of APV systems on the rural landscape remains a concern. Integrating these systems in a way that harmonizes with the existing landscape is important for public acceptance and environmental protection.
8. Systematic thinking and regional approaches
   From the demand side, it is important to adopt a systematic approach to APV implementation. Regionalwerke (regional energy companies) could play a key role and serve as a good practice for interregional learning.
9. APV: Potential for rapid growth
   APV could quickly spread across Europe if primary questions about grid integration, legal frameworks, and landscape management are resolved. Once these key issues are addressed, APV has the potential to become a widespread solution.
10. New law on privileged status for APV
    Recent legal developments in Germany now allow APV projects to receive privileged status (Privilegierung) under Section 35 of the Baugesetzbuch (BauGB). This means that APV projects can be approved more easily in agricultural areas, as long as the land is used for both energy production and ongoing agricultural activity. The Agricultural Office plays a crucial role in determining this privileged status, which simplifies the approval process for APV installations.
11. Existing guidelines for PV installations
    The Municipality of Ruhstorf an der Rott has already established a set of criteria for evaluating the visibility of open-field PV installations on agricultural land.

The meeting generated genuine interest among stakeholders, and the discussion provided valuable insights into APV’s potential and challenges, highlighting the importance of collaboration to drive sustainable energy solutions in agriculture.