Renewable energy services tailored to your livestock business
BayWa r.e. is an expert in the development of renewable energy projects and has always worked in the agricultural sector.
With a strong belief that everyone has a role to play in the energy transition and that there are genuine synergies between energy production and food production, BayWa r.e. works with farmers to help them build successful Agri-PV projects.
We have a portfolio of 250 MWp of sheep grazing in Europe, with over 35 parks in operation. In France, we host sheep farming on a dozen solar farms.
Livestock canopy
Are you involved in sheep or cattle farming? Do you have farmland and want to start a livestock business?
For grazing plots, BayWa r.e. offers structures equipped with fixed or mobile panels (trackers) positioned horizontally.
The project is designed for livestock farming, with the installation of drinking troughs, gutters to protect electrical wires, holding areas, adequate fencing and grass meadows to suit the farmer’s needs. The latter has 24-hour access to the site.
Benefits
This agrivoltaic solution combines the benefits of the solution for arable crops with those for pastureland:
Reduced water and heat stress due to shade from panels.
Improved animal welfare thanks to the shelter provided by the panels in the event of heat peaks and bad weather.
Maintaining and spreading fodder production.
A secure area for animals.
Additional income for the farmer.
Criteria for an agrivoltaic project using a pasture canopy
This technology is dedicated to grazing land
Minimum 12 hectares required
Maximum slope 12%
Trackers for mixed farming
Do you have a business that combines animal and crop production?
By developing an Agri-PV installation on your plot of land, you can make a profit while protecting your crops and livestock. For plots where crops and livestock are rotated, BayWa r.e. offers a system of mobile panels that can be adjusted to adapt to the use of the plot. The panels can be placed vertically when farm machinery is passing by, and horizontally when animals are present.
The SOLAR R&D project in partnership with INRAE
BayWa r.e. has been running a 2-year R&D project: Optimisation Solutions and Levers for Resilient Agri-Voltaics (SOLAR) since 2022 with the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE) to study the synergy between fodder production and photovoltaics on three farms that it operates.
Related topics
Agri-PV
With Agri-PV, your land does two crucial jobs at the same time: firstly, maintaining its original agricultural purpose and secondly, generating clean power.
Do you have an arboricultural activity?
Our semi-transparent agrivoltaic canopy technology is a solution for mitigating climate change and protecting your crops while preserving yields.
Do you grow crops or vegetables?
Our inter-row Agri-PV tracker technology enhance the value of your arable farms.
