AGRIC – Advancing Photovoltaics in Agriculture

The European Union accelerates solar energy deployment under REPowerEU and the European Green Deal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen energy security. Reaching the target of more than 400 gigawatts of installed solar capacity by 2030 requires solutions that avoid land-use conflicts. Agrivoltaics, which combines agricultural production with photovoltaic electricity generation, offers an innovative approach to address this challenge.

The project operates in Bulgaria, Germany, Lithuania, Poland and Serbia, where agriculture plays a major economic and social role, and climate policies increasingly link renewable energy with sustainable land use. National frameworks such as Germany’s Renewable Energy Sources Act, Lithuania’s National Energy and Climate Plan, Poland’s photovoltaic sector strategy, and Serbia’s renewable energy and climate strategies recognise the importance and potential of solar energy but provide limited practical guidance for Agrivoltaics. The project supports these policies by strengthening institutional capacity, improving investment readiness and enabling climate-resilient agriculture in line with European Union climate and energy objectives.

The project strengthens the adoption of Agrivoltaic solutions by building practical knowledge, institutional capacity and investment readiness in rural regions. It delivers targeted trainings for public authorities, farmers, advisors and investors, supported by training materials, demonstration farm videos and best-practice examples. An interactive impact assessment tool helps stakeholders evaluate economic, environmental and agricultural effects of Agrivoltaics under local conditions.

The project develops a funding guide that explains available financing options and reduces uncertainty for project developers. Policy recommendations support clearer regulatory frameworks and smoother permitting procedures. Cross-regional workshops and stakeholder meetings enable exchange between agriculture and energy actors and showcase successful applications.

By sharing open-source tools, training materials and guidance beyond the project regions, the project supports replication in other areas facing similar challenges. These activities promote dual land use, protect agricultural production, reduce electricity costs and accelerate the rural energy transition.