Combining solar panels with crops can nearly triple Central Europe’s renewable electricity production

Brussels, 19 August – New analysis from energy think-tank Ember finds that Central Europe could produce 191 TWh of clean power from solar panels mounted above or between food crops (known as agri-PV). This is equivalent to 68% of today’s electricity demand in Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia and almost three times the countries’ combined current renewable electricity generation (73 TWh).

Deploying just 9% of the calculated agri-PV potential could cover the electricity needs of agriculture and food processing in Central Europe.

According to the report findings, 180 GW of solar panels could be installed on crops across the Central European countries.This is triple the solar capacity declared in draft climate targets for 2030 (60 GW) and seven times more than the total installed capacity by the end of 2023 (25 GW).

Media enquiries

[email protected]

Full materials

Read the report

Adding solar to farms boosts both energy and food security

Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia represent a fifth (19%) of the EU’s arable land. They produce 20% of the bloc’s wheat, 29% of oats, 37% of rye and 57% berries. This major food supply is now under pressure from volatile fertiliser prices driven by fossil gas, and the increased frequency of droughts and extreme weather events driven by climate change.

The analysis finds that installing solar panels with food growing can alleviate this by improving water retention in dry years and protecting crops from extreme weather, and in some cases can increase yield. For shade-loving berries or fruits, overhead agri-PV leads to crop increases of up to 16% while producing 63% of the electricity of a traditional solar farm. With less shade-tolerant crops like wheat, yield losses are kept below 20% thanks to vertical solar panels with wide row spacing, and the added revenues from the sale of electricity far outweigh the reduced revenues from grains.

Since both activities happen on the same land, overall it makes production much more efficient than doing either alone and generates additional income streams for farmers.

With Europe increasingly under threat in volatile times, food security and energy security are absolutely vital. Installing solar panels with agriculture can help farmers contribute to both while keeping business stable and profitable.

Dr Paweł Czyżak
‍Regional CEE Lead, Ember

Agri-PV can unlock higher profits for farmers

A case study from the report considers agri-PV with wheat in Poland. When agri-PV is installed, revenues per hectare can be twelve times higher than those from wheat crops alone, with a potential annual profit of €1268 per hectare from the combined electricity and wheat sales. This contrasts with traditional wheat production (without agri-PV) that is estimated to be generating net losses in 2024.

However, access is currently limited, with countries like Hungary, Poland and Slovakia still lacking agri-PV regulations. Where frameworks have been introduced, countries see rapid growth. In Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands, regulations allow the shared use of land for agriculture and electricity production without the loss of farming subsidies. This has led to over 200 agri-PV projects already being deployed across Europe.

Agri-PV provides tangible solutions to some challenges faced by traditional solar farms – like curtailment or grid connection delays. It also benefits the EU’s food security by supporting farmers in major food producing countries in Central Europe. Legislation and support frameworks are therefore key to unlock its potential.

Dr Paweł Czyżak
‍Regional CEE Lead, Ember

About Ember

Ember is an independent energy think tank that aims to accelerate the clean energy transition with data and policy. It creates targeted data insights to advance policies that urgently shift the world to a clean, electrified energy future.

Learn More