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EU farming strategy recognises the role of solar for the first time
26/2/2025
News
The European Commission has published a new farming strategy that recognises the role of solar PV in enhancing energy security, decarbonising the sector and supplementing farmers’ income for the first time ever, says SolarPower Europe.
The new farming strategy, ‘A Vision for Agriculture and Food’, presents a pathway for a more competitive, attractive and fair EU farming and food sector.
The document says: ‘Important opportunities are also emerging on renewable energy production, an avenue which enhances energy security, decreases greenhouse gas emissions, and offers farmers and foresters additional income and innovation prospects. Farmers should not only be even more energy-sufficient with for example solar panels, windmills and biogas production, but also be able to deliver their energy products to the market, including through energy communities.’
Commenting on the inclusion of agri-solar – combining solar and agriculture – in the document, Lina Dubina, Policy Advisor at SolarPower Europe, says: ‘This is a landmark moment – the European Commission explicitly recognises solar as a complementary tool for agriculture, providing energy security, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, and – critically – offering farmers additional revenue streams.’
Agri-solar is a proven concept across Europe, with over 200 projects operating today, exceeding 2.8 GW of capacity, reports SolarPower Europe.
‘This solar integration boosts climate resilience by providing moveable shade, reducing water use, regenerating soil, as well as shielding crops and livestock from extreme heat. A transition to regenerative agriculture, combined with suitable solar installation, can lead to profit increases of up to €235,000 annually,’ says Dubina.
According to SolarPower Europe’s agri-solar best practice guidelines, agri-solar can improve water efficiency by 20–30%, increase soil carbon storage by up to 80%, and increase pollinator presence by up to 60%.
‘The Commission should now turn [its] Vision into action,’ concludes Dubina. ‘We ask for concrete amendments to the EU Common Agriculture Policy as well as dedicated guidance to better inform member states and spread the benefits of agri-solar to many more farmers and rural economies across Europe.’
RWE begins building its first commercial agri-solar projects in Italy
In related news, RWE reports that it has started construction of its first commercial scale agri-solar farm projects. The 9.8 MW Morcone and 9.3 MW Acquafredda projects are located in the province of Benevento in the Campania region of Italy.
More than 32,500 solar modules will be installed across the two sites. The modules will be elevated on a three-metre-high tracker structure with a movable axis. This is said to increase the energy yield of the solar systems while crops are harvested below the panels, which protect them from hail, frost, drought and heavy rain.
Both projects are expected to be commissioned at the end of this year.
Katja Wunschel, CEO RWE Renewables Europe & Australia, comments: ‘Advanced agri-PV helps us to use the scarce resource of land responsibly and efficiently, generating two different yields – agriculture and renewable energy – from the same land. Win-win at its best.’
