Government wants more solar systems on fields

With significantly more solar systems on arable land, the expansion of renewable energies is to be promoted. According to plans by the federal government, significantly more photovoltaic systems are to be built on agricultural land. This emerges from a key issues paper by Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck, Environment Minister Steffi Lemke and Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir. "We expect that up to 200 gigawatts of additional PV capacity can be installed as a result," explained Habeck.

With the systems, fields can be used to generate electricity and to grow plants at the same time, which reduces land consumption. The solar panels stand on high frames like a roof, so that there is still enough light for the plants underneath.

The plan of the Green Ministers envisages that agri-PV systems can also be built on drained moors that have so far been used for agriculture, if the moor is rewetted. Nature reserves, grassland or other soils relevant to nature conservation should be excluded. In addition, the municipalities should be able to prescribe rules for the construction of the plants if this should be necessary for reasons of nature conservation.

Project should be through the cabinet by Easter

The project is part of a larger package of laws for the expansion of wind and solar energy, which Climate Protection Minister Habeck wants to get through the cabinet by Easter. Agri-PV systems are to be funded via the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). According to the key issues paper, farmers who receive agricultural subsidies from the EU for their land should continue to be able to receive them as long as agricultural use is only affected by the solar systems by up to 15 percent.

The traffic light coalition also wants to push ahead with the expansion of solar systems in buildings. PV systems on the roofs of commercial buildings are to become mandatory, and the norm for private houses. This should help to cover 80 percent of Germany's electricity requirements by 2030 from renewable energies. So far, at 40 percent, it's about half.