Solar TAP Advances Agri-PV Innovation Toward a Sustainable Future
At Solar TAP, we’re proud to collaborate with Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schurr (Principal Investigator, Solar TAP) and Dr. Matthias Meier-Grüll (Principal Investigator, Solar TAP) to advance Agri-Photovoltaics (Agri-PV), which is a promising approach that combines solar energy production with agricultural use on the same land.
Demonstration sites at the Institute of Bio- und Geosciences at Forschungszentrum Jülich in the Rhenish region are testing three Agri-PV system types:
• Vertical fixed modules, spaced for farm machinery
• Sun-tracking systems that follow the sun
• Elevated pergola-style structures, ideal for shade-tolerant crops.
These systems create win-win outcomes — producing clean electricity while protecting crops from extreme weather and reducing water usage through natural shading. In some cases, yields can even increase.
With growing pressure to balance food security and energy transition, Agri-PV offers a scalable, sustainable solution. Policy is beginning to catch up: Germany’s EEG amendment (2023) improved support and funding for Agri-PV. But hurdles like complex permitting still remain.
At Solar TAP, we see Agri-PV as a vital building block in our mission to accelerate multi-benefit PV applications. We’re excited to help shape a future where energy and agriculture grow side by side.
Read the interview with Dr. Meier-Grüll with focus on electricity from farmland here.