Solar panels mounted above a hops field in Germany are helping to generate clean energy while providing shade and protection for the crops. Located in the town of Au in der Hallertau, the pilot project is a collaboration between farmer Josef Wimmer and local solar technology company Hallertauer Handelshaus. The solar panels cover 1.3 hectares of land and can power around 250 households. The shade provided by the panels helps the hops plants endure the increasing summer heat caused by climate change. The project marks the first agrivoltaic initiative focused solely on hops in Germany, although similar projects have emerged worldwide for various agricultural crops.
Bernhard Gruber, who manages the solar component of the project, explains that beer-making hops can suffer from too much sun exposure. By mounting solar panels above the crops, the plants are shielded from solar stress, allowing them to stay healthier and be less susceptible to diseases. A scientific analysis of the benefits for the crops will be concluded in October. Researchers in the United Kingdom are also exploring the integration of solar panels onto greenhouses or polytunnels, which can provide shade and reduce the need for large solar arrays on agricultural land.
In East Africa, solar panels are being used to help conserve moisture in plants and soil and reduce water consumption. The agrivoltaic systems have led to increased yields for crops such as maize, Swiss chard, and beans. Richard Randle-Boggis, a research associate at the University of Sheffield, is developing agrivoltaic systems in Kenya and Tanzania and highlights that these projects can contribute to climate change resilience by improving the growing environment for crops while also generating low-carbon electricity.
The success of these projects demonstrates the potential for solar panels to be integrated into agricultural settings. Gruber envisions expanding the use of solar panels over hops fields and has received inquiries from hop farmers abroad. As the world faces a more climate-variable future, utilizing solar panels in agricultural settings can help protect crops, conserve water, and generate clean energy.
