A new trend topic was on show at this year's Agritechnica. Numerous suppliers of photovoltaic systems set up their stands amidst the new approaches to green agriculture. The complete range of options for farmers to make double use of their land was on display. Gridparity as well as Sunfarming and Next2Sun showed specific systems with which farms can create a second source of income.
Wide range of solutions
The solutions range from high elevated systems, under which agricultural use of the land is still possible, to tracker systems that the farmer can move according to his needs, to vertically elevated systems that are set so far apart that even large agricultural machines can fit between them.
Economic efficiency is important
A key issue here is the cost-effectiveness of such systems. How agriphotovoltaics can be amortised was one of the focal points of the Energy Theme Day, which took place as part of Agritechnica. Here, Erich Merkle, Managing Director of Gripdparity, not only presented the many options for farmers that the company has developed. He also gave an outlook on how solar power can be utilised on site.
The future is hot self-consumption on site
This is because the self-consumption of solar power from the field on the field is where the systems become economically viable, for example as a power source for agricultural drones that fertilise the fields. To avoid having to fly several kilometres back to the farm to charge the batteries, a charging station with storage support is conceivable, at which the drone is charged directly with the electricity from the existing agri-PV system. Such concepts can also support the electrification of farms' vehicle fleets. Here too, flexible charging stations with storage units are a way of charging electric tractors and electrically powered harvesting machines on site.
See also: Sunfarming builds new agri-PV systems in the Rhineland
The decentralised self-supply of farms with solar power will also be a central topic at the next EnergyDecentral in Hanover. Registration for exhibitors is already open. Interested visitors should already save the date from 12 to 15 November 2024. (su)
