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Experts call for a clear definition of Agri-PV

Published on
October 1, 2024

Experts from Wageningen University & Research (WUR), TNO and Renergize Consultancy have drafted a policy paper advocating for a clear definition of Agri-PV. Agri-PV combines agriculture with solar energy production, allowing both food and energy to be produced on the same plot of land. The experts warn that clear guidelines are essential to prevent agricultural land from being primarily used for energy generation. The policy paper follows the Dutch government’s parliamentary letter on the ' Aangescherpte voorkeursvolgorde zon’, in which the government stated that the use of agricultural land for solar farms is undesirable unless it is also used for food production.

A clear definition of Agri-PV is crucial

With the revised preference order for solar farms, the government aims to strike a balance between sustainable energy production and food security. According to the experts, a clear definition of Agri-PV is necessary to provide guidelines for farmers, developers, and policymakers. It would also reduce the risk of agricultural land being misused. If crop production drops significantly due to the arrangement of solar panels, agricultural land would be used less efficiently than a mono-functional solar farm. A clear definition prevents this by establishing testable conditions for Agri-PV setups in advance and enabling monitoring afterwards, according to the authors of the policy paper.

Minimum requirements for an Agri-PV definition

At the SunChain conference in Utrecht on 2 October 2024, an open discussion on the definition of Agri-PV will take place for the first time. According to the experts from WUR, TNO, and Renergize Consultancy, the definition must meet several minimum requirements:

  1. Testability during the planning phase to ensure a smooth permitting process.
  2. Evaluation based on the intensity and distribution of sunlight on the crops.
  3. The combination of agriculture and energy production must contribute to efficient use of water, pesticides, and land.
  4. Agricultural activity must be maintained at all times.

These guidelines are based on insights from ongoing Agri-PV projects, including the five-year Sunbiose project, as well as on (inter)national scientific literature.

‘Crop light assessment’ may help

The experts propose introducing a crop light assessment as a basis for the Agri-PV definition. This assessment calculates how much light the crops receive, depending on the arrangement and density of the solar panels. This criterion is testable in advance and helps ensure a balance between crop yield and energy production. “A clear definition of Agri-PV will contribute to a sustainable future where agriculture and energy production are combined in a smart and efficient way,” the experts state in the policy paper.