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28.10.2026 12:20
Konradsreuth/Hof – How can agricultural land be used for farming while simultaneously generating solar power, and which photovoltaic system makes the most economic sense under specific site conditions? A research project conducted by the Institute of Hydrogen and Energy Technology (iwe) at Hof University of Applied Sciences is investigating these questions. Since 2024, the research team has been examining various concepts for so-called agrivoltaics (Agri-PV) as part of the EnerKMU programme. These systems allow agricultural land to be used simultaneously for electricity generation and activities such as grazing.
The study focuses on a site in Konradsreuth near Hof. Until the planned completion of the project in June 2027, the research team will compare three different system designs: a conventional south-facing ground-mounted solar installation, a vertical bifacial east-west system, and a vertically tracking system. Bifacial modules can absorb sunlight from both sides, while a tracking system adjusts the orientation of its modules according to the position of the sun.
“Our research clearly shows that the highest energy yield does not automatically translate into the best economic solution. What matters is when the electricity is generated and how much it is worth on the market at that time,” explains Oliver Stark, a project researcher at iwe at Hof University of Applied Sciences, summarising one of the project's key findings.
Electricity prices change the equation
A key feature of the research project is that it looks beyond the amount of electricity generated. The simulations also incorporate actual electricity market prices and site-specific weather data. In addition, the research team is investigating various battery storage concepts, including so-called green and grey storage systems.
The results reveal significant differences between the systems. Although the vertically tracking concept achieved the highest specific energy yield, the vertical east-west system proved to be the most economically attractive option. One reason is its characteristic generation profile: rather than producing a pronounced peak around midday, the system generates more electricity in the morning and afternoon. These periods can offer more favourable prices on the electricity market.
“When planning future Agri-PV installations, we should therefore ask more than just how many kilowatt-hours a system produces. It is equally important to consider when those kilowatt-hours are generated and how this affects the system's economic viability,” Stark explains.
Research directly informs the planning of a new installation
The project has a direct practical application. The simulations are serving as the planning basis for a 1-megawatt-peak (MWp) Agri-PV installation being developed at the site under investigation. MWp refers to the maximum electrical output of a photovoltaic system under standardised test conditions. The project partner is WiesenSonne Agri PV GmbH, based in Konradsreuth.
The selected vertical system allows the land to remain in agricultural use and is particularly well suited to grazing. It also has no moving components directly within the grazing area, making agricultural operations easier to manage.
The researchers have also developed a dedicated simulation methodology for evaluating vertical Agri-PV systems. This enabled them to compare the different system designs under identical site conditions. In addition to technical performance indicators, the study examined how different electricity generation profiles affect a system's economic performance.
The location ultimately determines the optimal system
The project's central finding is also relevant to other Agri-PV developments: there is no universally “best” system based on energy yield alone. Weather conditions, land use, technical characteristics, electricity market prices and potential storage solutions must all be considered together.
“Site-specific simulations of this kind can provide a sound basis for technical and economic decisions at an early stage when planning future installations,” explain Alfred Caspar and Sebastian Unglaub, Managing Directors of project partner WiesenSonne Agri PV GmbH.
Oliver Stark, Hochschule Hof
Merkmale dieser Pressemitteilung:
Journalisten, Lehrer/Schüler, Studierende, Wirtschaftsvertreter, Wissenschaftler, jedermann
Energie, Ernährung / Gesundheit / Pflege, Tier / Land / Forst, Umwelt / Ökologie, Wirtschaft
überregional
Forschungsergebnisse, Forschungsprojekte
Englisch
Anfangsdatum
Enddatum
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