A new study suggests that combining farming with green energy production could be a game-changer for food security and farmer income in Central Europe. The study, conducted by the energy think tank Ember, proposes deploying solar panels alongside crops, a practice known as agri-PV. This approach could be a solution to boost renewable electricity in Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia, potentially reaching 68% of the region’s current energy demand.
The research highlights that utilizing just 9% of farmland for agri-PV could meet the electricity needs of agriculture and food processing in the region. Ember proposes installing 180GW of solar panels across these countries, surpassing the targeted capacity by 2030 outlined in their national energy plans and significantly exceeding current installed capacity.
Central Europe, known as the Visegrad 4 countries, boasts 19% of the EU’s arable land and is a major producer of staple crops like wheat, oats, and rye. However, these crops are facing threats from volatile fertilizer prices, recurring droughts, and extreme weather events. The study suggests that agri-PV could mitigate these risks while providing farmers with an additional income stream.
Beyond generating electricity, the study indicates that solar panels can improve water retention during dry years and protect crops from harsh weather conditions, potentially increasing yields in some cases. For crops that thrive in shade, such as berries and fruits, overhead agri-PV systems can lead to yield increases of up to 16% while generating 63% of the electricity produced by traditional solar arrays.
Dr. Paweł Czyżak, a data analyst and one of the report’s authors, emphasizes the importance of food and energy security in volatile times. He believes agri-PV can contribute to both while ensuring farmers remain profitable. However, he acknowledges that legislative frameworks and support mechanisms are crucial to unlock the full potential of agri-PV, as it faces similar challenges to conventional solar arrays regarding grid access. Currently, only Czechia has specific regulations for agri-PV, while other countries like France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands allow shared land use for agriculture and electricity production without losing farming subsidies, leading to over 200 agri-PV projects across Europe.
A case study in Poland examining agri-PV with wheat production reveals that revenues per hectare could be twelve times higher compared to solely growing wheat. This translates to a potential annual profit of €1268 per hectare from combined electricity and wheat sales, a substantial contrast to traditional wheat farming, which is estimated to generate net losses in 2024.
While the benefits are evident, some farmers may need convincing. Marion Picot, secretary general of the European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA), expresses concerns about fertile land being converted for solar panels without the option to grow crops. She emphasizes the importance of ensuring agri-PV does not compromise the economic, social, and environmental value of agricultural soils, prioritizing installations on building roofs or combining them efficiently with crop and livestock production.
