SPIE will provide all services related to the substation for the project, the construction of which is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2025 and which is scheduled to go into operation in the second quarter of 2026. The plant consists of four transformers to ensure reliable feeding of the energy generated into the existing high-voltage grid, which is connected to the regional distribution network operator E.DIS via 110-kilovolt cable systems.
The agriPV project uses bifacial glass-glass PV modules with light and rainwater management under the solar modules. The modules are installed according to DIN SPEC at a minimum height of 2.10 meters.
Once the project is operational, the agricultural land will be used for year-round crop cultivation and cattle breeding (calves and young cattle).
Edith Brasche, Managing Director of Project Development at SUNfarming, said: “We are currently developing several gigawatt agri-PV systems that will not only be used in arable farming and fruit growing, but also for rearing cows and calves, poultry and fallow deer. The Steinhöfel Climate Park is part of our research and shows that agri-PV systems protect the environment, nature and groundwater from climate change while creating real added value for rural regions.”
In cooperation with an unnamed agricultural consulting company for local farms and farmers from the region, SUNfarming developed the agricultural concept for the 753 MWp AgriPV park and brought it to the building permit phase within a four-year development period.
During this time, the IPP obtained the official permits in the eight districts in which the project is to be located, explained Martin Tauschke, co-founder and managing director of SUNfarming.
The news follows growing interest in the European AgriPV sector, with the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) reporting that technologies such as AgriPV could enable Europe to reach its net-zero targets with “minimal” impact on land availability.
Earlier this year, Caroline Plaza, Managing Partner of the Becquerel Institute, wrote for PV-Tech Performance about how AgriPV could also benefit from innovative business models that could open up new opportunities in the industry.
