RWE’s agrivoltaic (Agri-PV) facility in the Rhenish mining region is experiencing a double dose of growth.
Since early this year, its 6,100 solar panels have been generating renewable electricity, and now farmers have planted the first crops alongside the energy production.
Three Unique Concepts for Agrivoltaic Synergy
RWE’s 7-hectare demonstration site on reclaimed land near the Garzweiler opencast mine is exploring three different approaches to cultivating crops and generating solar power simultaneously. The goal is to determine the most successful and economically viable combinations.
Fixed Vertical Panels, Tracking Modules, and Elevated Pergolas
The first configuration features fixed solar panels mounted vertically on support structures. The second design uses modules mounted on a moveable axis to track the sun’s path throughout the day.
RWE’s recultivation team recently planted alfalfa and a clover-grass mix between the rows of these modules, preparing the soil for future cereal, root vegetable, and vegetable crops.
The third system uses a pergola-like structure to elevate the modules, allowing a local farmer to grow raspberries in pots beneath them. This method can enhance plant health and yields while providing more predictable harvest times.
Research for Optimized Agrivoltaic Practices
RWE’s demonstration plant will conduct critical research on the interaction between plant growth and photovoltaic technology over five years, across varying seasonal conditions. This will help develop management strategies and profitable operating models for agrivoltaic systems.
The project receives scientific support from the Institute for Plant Sciences at Forschungszentrum Jülich and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems. It is also funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia through the progres.nrw program, which focuses on climate protection and energy transition.