Agrivoltaics: putting crops first
At the beginning of January 2022, the French Senate adopted, by a large majority, a resolution calling on the government to provide a better framework for agrivoltaic projects. The text makes their development conditional on one commitment: that they give priority to agricultural production over energy production. Since then, the APER law of March 10, 2023 on the acceleration of renewable energy production has enshrined this principle, in particular its implementing decree of April 8, 2024 and the maximum coverage rates it lays down.
Developed in conjunction with industry professionals and distributed by AFNOR Certification, the “Projet agrivoltaïque” label embodies this commitment, providing objective proof that the project does even better than the regulatory minimum.
Unknown until a few years ago, agrivoltaics consists of installing fixed or dynamic photovoltaic panels on farmland, vineyards or pastures. As land is a coveted commodity, these schemes are growing rapidly in France, leading to some worrying abuses. Lagging behind its target for the development of renewable energies (19% versus 23% in 2020), France has committed to investing massively in solar energy. The multi-annual energy plan for the period 2019-2028 calls for an increase from 10 to 20 gigawatt-peak (GWp) in 2023, rising to 35 GWp to 44 GWp in 2028. At a rate of one MWp per hectare, this objective requires the installation of photovoltaic panels on some 30,000 hectares. After abandoned industrial sites (wastelands, quarries, etc.), all of which are now in use, investors are increasingly turning to farmland, which accounts for almost two-thirds of the land in France.
Photovoltaics: land speculation
For farmers, it’s tempting to host such projects on their land. Indeed, the rents paid by energy companies are up to ten times higher than farm revenues, which are in constant decline. As a result, land prices are skyrocketing, preventing young farmers from setting up in business. In addition to the increasing artificialization of agricultural land, there is a risk that the country will lose its food self-sufficiency.
On the other hand, agrivoltaic installations can have agronomic benefits. The shade provided by the panels on the vines of southern France, for example, limits scorching summer temperatures and water shortages. In winter, on the contrary, their presence can reduce the impact of late frosts. These structures can also be used for netting against hail or certain undesirable animals (insects, birds, etc.).
However, an agrivoltaic installation should not be seen as an energy priority for agriculture. A 2009 decree prohibits unbalancing one in favor of the other. However, in the absence of clear regulations, there are many ways around this. For example, we have seen the emergence of “free” sheds for farmers, on condition that they authorize the installation of a photovoltaic roof, or greenhouses covered with solar panels, whose cast shadows made it impossible to grow even the smallest vegetable…
Agrivoltaics: a welcome frame of reference
Since then, the industry and public authorities have been mobilizing to prevent such abuses. The Commission de régulation de l’énergie (CRE) now requires that agrivoltaic projects first meet an agricultural need, “by enabling demonstrable operating synergy”. This priority has been taken up by the fledgling France Agrivoltaïsme association, which brings together the main players in the sector. Ademe, the French energy transition agency, is currently working on a study of around 100 agrivoltaic installations, the results of which are due to be released shortly.
“It was against this backdrop that we were approached by a project developer who had been selected as part of the French investment program for the future (PIA) to produce a technical reference framework to qualify virtuous projects that give priority to agriculture,” explains Jérémie Mella, Product Manager at AFNOR certification. This has led to the creation of the ” Agrivoltaic project on crops ” label, which recognizes virtuous projects with a positive impact on agricultural performance. The standard does not select photovoltaic technology: fixed or dynamic panels (1 axis or 2 axes) are eligible. It’s the project that’s valued, ” Jérémie Mella insists, throughout its lifecycle, from commissioning to operation, using a multi-criteria assessment. This is not a rigid application, but a combination of mandatory requirements and a minimum score that takes into account the particularities of each project and culture. ”
Agrivoltaics: planning test areas
The initial certification audit assesses the project’s resources at the design stage. The energy project must be adapted to the farm and give it priority. The system must therefore provide sufficient light for the crops. The shadows cast by fixed photovoltaic panels will not occupy more than 50% of the surface area, and the foundations no more than 10%. ” Systems must be reversible,” insists Jérémie Mella. The layout of the panels must also be adapted to the farm’s technical itinerary: they must be sufficiently high and spaced to allow the passage of all the farm machinery required for the operation.
Then, to keep the label, the developer must apply best practices to the construction and operation of the plant. Construction and maintenance equipment must not compact the soil or interfere with agricultural production. Control areas and agrivoltaic surfaces are regularly monitored by independent bodies, in order to assess the impact of the system on agronomic results, a measure included in the decree of April 8, 2024. Priority is given to measuring the volume and quality of agricultural production in a normal year, the ability of the project to preserve this production under unfavorable climatic conditions, and the co-benefits it can bring for the farmer and his environment. In this respect, it is essential that the farmer learns how to operate the solar system. For example, it must be able to raise the panels in a vertical position on a wheat crop to allow the combine harvester to pass.
The agrivoltaic label soon to be extended to livestock farming
Lastly, a final assessment of agricultural performance is carried out five years after planting, with an intermediate stage at three years, in order to rectify the situation if necessary. When the time comes to take stock, better yields are expected, thanks to the protection panels offer against the vagaries of the weather. The installation must also demonstrate sustainable economic profitability and a favorable environmental impact in terms of biodiversity.
Barely launched, the label is already being sought by a number of agrivoltaic project developers. It has also just been included in the recommendations made by the Drôme departmental directorate for agrivoltaic projects on its territory. It is also cited in the work of a parliamentary mission on the subject(watch here, at the 56th minute). It should rapidly become an essential reference for project developers, while we wait for it to be extended to projects installed on land intended for livestock farming.
