On 9 November 2026, an investigation by Norddeutscher Rundfunk highlights the practical problems facing agri-photovoltaics . According to the report, the combined use of farmland for power generation and agricultural production is not progressing as planned at several sites in northern Germany. In Tützpatz in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania the agri-solar park is reportedly still not in regular agricultural use a year after it began operating. The main causes cited are technical defects and processes that make farming more difficult.
The main focus is on the so-called trackers, or movable mounting structures that allow the panels to follow the sun. Farmers say that ordinary machinery – such as a combine harvester – can manoeuvre only to a limited extent beneath the rows. In addition, the combination of post spacing, cable routing and field layout creates logistical problems for sowing, maintenance and harvesting. The operators and project partners say that the installations are to be retrofitted and operating procedures adjusted; reliable yield data covering several growing seasons are not yet available.
Another pilot project in Dörverden-Stedorf shows, by contrast, that crops can in principle be harvested between vertically mounted panels. Grain was harvested for the first time there using a combine harvester between rows of panels. However, those responsible for the project stress that the effects of partial shading and microclimate on yields can only be assessed with data collected over several years.
Research, including work by the University of Hohenheim, notes that location, crop selection and system design are crucial. Partial shading can affect water balance and leaf development, potentially leading to lower or higher yields depending on the crop. The cost structure also changes: additional steel and tracking technology increase investment costs, while potential harvest benefits and revenue from feeding electricity into the grid offset them.
Weather conditions in 2026 have made matters more difficult. Drought and heat reduced grain yields in many parts of Lower Saxony and beyond. The German Farmers’ Association reports significant losses and warns of strained feed and water balances. This distorts comparisons between years and makes agricultural assessments of agri-photovoltaics more complex.
Three provisional lessons can be drawn from the projects. First, system design and field management need to be planned more closely together so that machinery can operate effectively, from row spacing to turning areas. Second, reliable long-term data are needed on yields, soil and microclimate under different systems. Third, ownership and usage rules should clearly resolve conflicts of interest between operators and farming businesses. Only once these issues have been addressed can the potential of agri-photovoltaics be demonstrated reliably across the landscape – including in Tützpatz and at other sites in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Lower Saxony.
Editor: Daniel Mayer (Article created with AI assistance).