accelerates Agri-PV research with four new pilot projects in the Netherlands These “fruitvoltaic” systems combine food and solar energy production on the same land and aim to improve fruit quality through research on plant health together with its Dutch subsidiary GroenLeven BayWa r.e has built two Agri-PV research facilities in the villages of Enspijk and Randwijk in the centre of the Netherlands with a capacity of 105 kWp and 125 kWp The cherry and pear pilots will be monitored by the Fruit Tech Campus and the Wageningen University & Research (WUR) respectively Both projects give the research institutes ample opportunity to test a variety of set-ups and their effects on the fruits. In Austria has completed a 340 kWp pilot for stone and pome fruit which was implemented together with the Haidegg research facility in Graz and MKG GÖBEL finished construction of a 115 kWp raspberry pilot in Oedheim with a light transmittance of approximately 70 % and rainproof construction The research institute for Viticulture and fruit growing Weinsberg (LVWO) will be monitoring the quality of the fruit below the PV modules keeps pushing the boundaries in fruit cultivation research via Agri-PV and is thereby actively supporting evidence-based decision-making in business and politics Funding bodies of the projects are the Dutch government the federal state of Styria in Austria and the federal state of Baden-Württemberg in Germany. Also interesting: Land of the Sun project in Italy Head of Product Management Agri-PV at BayWa r.e. commented: “Our Agri-PV projects can be a great response to the poly-crisis we are facing right now we should look for multifunctional approaches that support our sustainable development in the EU and worldwide We are experiencing a great demand for our Agri-PV solutions because it brings PV expansion in line with agriculture and nature conservation For these synergies to be leveraged between the sectors technical adaptation of the PV generator is required the political course has not yet been set to serve this potential and demand In collaboration with the scientific community environmentally and economically worthwhile to support Agri-PV.” Global Director of Solar Projects at BayWa r.e. added: “Climate change and agriculture are deeply connected with each other We have already made a positive impact on both of these with our past projects and we could do even better with our future ones Making the most of combining food production and solar energy unites social Now the question is: What should be done to create more of these kinds of projects?” By the end of 2022 has developed and installed 15 Agri-PV projects in the EU the first Agri-PV projects will be built outside the EU and new “Rangevoltaic” applications added to its portfolio in which animal husbandry for cows and sheep is combined with Agri-PV Did you miss that? Commerzbank finances huge agriphotovoltaic plant near Berlin Looking to stay on top of all relevant industry and business news? Click here to subscribe to our free twice-weekly pv Europe newsletter. A podcast for investors on the opportunities and risks of the solar market The pv Europe editorial team offers their own analysis and discusses current topics with experts.