Vattenfall’s Symbizon Agri-PV Park Launches in the Netherlands, Pioneering the Integration of Solar Power and Farming

(IN BRIEF) Vattenfall has launched its first agri-PV park, Symbizon, in the Netherlands, which combines solar energy generation with agriculture. Though small at 0.7 MWp capacity, the project aims to optimize the coexistence of solar panels and farming, with solar panels rotating to track the sun while allowing crops like potatoes and oats to grow between them. The initiative serves as a pilot for future projects, such as the larger 79 MW Tützpatz park in Germany. Vattenfall is using Symbizon as a learning platform to explore innovations like water management and crop performance in agri-PV settings. The project seeks to benefit both farmers and energy producers by integrating renewable energy with sustainable farming practices.

(PRESS RELEASE) STOCKHOLM, 27-Sep-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Vattenfall has officially launched its first agri-PV park, Symbizon, in the Netherlands, marking a new chapter in combining solar energy production with agriculture. The park, which is relatively small at 0.7 MWp capacity, represents a pioneering step in integrating solar panels with arable farming. Eric Tonnaer, Agri-PV Design Lead at Vattenfall, emphasizes that this project is just the beginning of a broader push toward multifunctional land use, as combining agriculture with renewable energy becomes increasingly important.

The Symbizon park aims to explore how solar panels and farming can coexist efficiently. The solar panels at Symbizon rotate to track the sun, optimizing energy generation while leaving sufficient space for farmers to operate machinery between the rows. Crops such as potatoes, oats, and beans are grown between the solar panels, while the effects of shade on the crops are also studied. Tonnaer and his team have faced challenges in integrating the two disciplines, such as ensuring compatibility between farming machinery and solar panels.

Symbizon also serves as a learning platform for future projects, such as the larger-scale Tützpatz agri-PV park in Germany, which will have a capacity of 79 MW and is expected to be operational by the end of 2024. Vattenfall is applying the lessons learned from Symbizon to refine their approach to building and managing agri-PV parks. The company is also participating in ongoing research to improve crop performance in agri-PV setups and explore innovations such as water management systems integrated with solar panel structures.

Tonnaer views the project as a stepping stone to further advancements in agri-PV technology, with a focus on creating solutions that benefit both farmers and energy producers.

Media Contact:

Clemens van Gessel
Tel: +46 8 739 50 10
email: press@vattenfall.com

Source: Vattenfall AB