Agrivoltaics among the rows: a unique research plant in Italy

Yesterday, 26th May, we inaugurated a cutting-edge agrivoltaic plant in Ora, south of Bolzano. The photovoltaic modules, installed at almost five meters in height above the apple orchards, move following the position of the sun during the day. The goal is ambitious: to produce renewable energy without interfering with agricultural activities, but rather, enhancing every square meter of land through integrated design.

The plant, created as part of the European Symbiosyst project, has a peak power of about 70 kilowatts, an amount of energy sufficient to meet the average needs of about twenty families. Its peculiarity lies not only in the height of the panels but also in the technological infrastructure that accompanies it: sensors and instruments collect data on microclimate, solar radiation, wind, humidity, and crop development. The results will allow us to evaluate how partial shading affects the growth, productivity, and water needs of fruit trees.

The design process was a shared effort to best integrate agricultural, energy, and environmental needs. Eurac Research institutions, Laimburg Experimentation Center, Südtiroler Bauernbund, and companies EF Solare Italia and Convert Italia/Valmont Solar participated.

The plant is one of the three demonstration sites envisaged by the Symbiosyst project, financed by the European Horizon Europe program, along with installations in Spain and the Netherlands. The goal is to identify replicable solutions that combine agricultural and energy sustainability in different contexts.

More information about the plant and pictures of the event here