BayWa r.e. AG has started construction of what is described as Europe’s biggest photovoltaic (PV) installation above fruits, a 8.7-MWp project in the Netherlands.
The German renewables company is delivering the project together with its Dutch subsidiary GroenLeven.
The fruitvoltaics array will consist of 24,206 “overhead” solar panels installed above raspberries at Maarten van Hoof’s farm in the province of North Brabant. Expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2024, the project follows a 2020 pilot on the same site. It is supported by government subsidies and investment from the farmer himself.
The developer said that greater use of agri-PV can help Europe meet challenges such as limited land, more extreme weather and growing demand for solar power, and called for supportive legislation and subsidies.
BayWa r.e. says it has so far realised 14 fruitvoltaic projects in EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa).
