As part of the research project "Model Region Agri-PV for Baden-Württemberg", the Lake Constance Competence Center for Fruit Growing, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and eleven other project partners are building and testing five Agri-PV pilot plants in Baden-Württemberg.
"Agri-photovoltaics offers huge opportunities for agriculture, sustainability and energy supply. With the model region Agri-Photovoltaics Baden-Württemberg, we want to show how double harvesting works - here, for example, solar energy and apples. Over the next three years, we are making a total of almost 2.5 million euros available for this purpose," said Minister President Kretschmann in his opening speech.
Researchers from the Lake Constance Competence Center for Fruit Growing (KOB) and Fraunhofer ISE are analyzing plant growth under the modules at the Agri-PV plant in Kressbronn in detail. "In addition to investigating the effects of varying shading on the growth and ecophysiology of the apples, this also includes research activities on the effects of the use of pesticides on the PV modules," explained Oliver Hörnle, project manager at Fraunhofer ISE. Dr. Ulrich Mayr, Deputy Managing Director of KOB, added: "For us, Agri-PV is another important building block for sustainable fruit production on Lake Constance: protected and therefore safe and high-quality apple production with additional solar power production."
