construction of the tracker system only began in late 2024
The project was nevertheless completed on time and will now be subject to scientific monitoring
The solar array on farmer Stefan Jatzkowsky's field in Bad Sassendorf in the west of Germany should be ready by spring
the construction of the tracker system with an installed capacity of 933 kilowatts was a major task
which is why the craftsmen from Gridparity wanted to start building the agri-PV system in the summer 2024
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Due to the protracted approval process for the elevated installation in a bird sanctuary
the start of construction was postponed until November 2024
with the subsequent challenge of more difficult weather conditions
ice and strong winds made the work a genuine obstacle course
Gridparity managed to construct the plant on time by mid-January 2025
<a href="https://www.pveurope.eu/agriculture/agri-pv-how-succeed-path-regenerative-and-sustainable-agriculture" data-entity-uuid="ca5bab2b-5e13-4dc6-904a-0f2f1da2e59f">Agri-PV: How to succeed on the path to regenerative and sustainable agriculture</a>
The system consists of trackers elevated at a height of 2.2 metres
The individual rows of trackers are each seven metres apart
This will allow agricultural use to continue almost without restriction
The farmer is only unable to cultivate one strip between the posts of the mounting system
This is because insects can colonise the area
<a href="https://www.pveurope.eu/agriculture/special-how-activate-agricultural-areas-produce-solar-electricity" data-entity-uuid="0ef09892-ed5d-449a-804b-280f7d89ca42">How to activate agricultural areas to produce solar electricity? Download our special here</a>
the farmer can increase the system's yield to a whopping 1,248,000 kilowatt hours
which also benefits the sustainability of neighbouring farms
farmer Stefan Jatzkowsky can show how small tracker systems close to the farm can be harmonised with different agricultural crops
The semi-transparent double-glazed modules used also ensure an improved microclimate under the solar installation
<a href="https://www.pveurope.eu/markets/ioannis-chatzichristofis-key-prerequisite-modernization-polish-electricity-grid" data-entity-uuid="5ca95d10-c2ea-46d9-8a04-f8da73672cbc">Ioannis Chatzichristofis: “a key prerequisite is the modernization of the Polish electricity grid”</a>
the scientific monitoring of the project by Haus Düsse
which is located in the immediate vicinity in Bad Sassendorf
focuses on how this microclimate affects the growth of the plants
This is the experimental and training centre for agriculture in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia in Bad Sassendorf
The researchers also want to find out which plants grow well under the modules
Haus Düsse already operates a small pilot plant with an output of around 17 kilowatts at the site
which is used for demonstration and research purposes
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