What Is Agri-PV? The 2026 Guide to Technology, Funding, and Economic Viability

Agri-PV combines agriculture and solar power on the same plot of land. This guide explains to B2B decision-makers and investors how agri-photovoltaics is defined under DIN SPEC 91434, what types of systems are available, what the EEG feed-in tariff will look like in 2026, how much an agri-PV system costs, and what return on investment is realistic—with each figure accompanied by its primary source and current status.

What is agri-PV, and why is its land efficiency increasing to over 160 percent?

The Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) describes how much land would be needed if used separately to achieve the same total yield from electricity and crops. Values above 100 percent indicate a gain in land efficiency resulting from the combination. Fraunhofer ISE estimates the LER of its reference systems to be between 1.6 and 1.86 (Fraunhofer ISE, Agri-Photovoltaics Guide). This dual harvest of solar power and crops significantly increases land use efficiency without displacing agriculture.

The benefit increases during dry years: partial shading reduces evaporation at ground level and alleviates heat stress on the plants. In Heggelbach, the potato yield in 2018 was 11 percent higher than the open-field reference (Trommsdorff et al. 2021). In this way, agri-PV addresses the competition for land between energy and food production caused by conventional open-field solar power systems.

Definition and legal framework according to DIN SPEC 91434

DIN SPEC 91434 specifies the minimum requirements for primary agricultural use—food production takes precedence over solar power generation. The key difference from traditional ground-mounted photovoltaic systems is the land status: With agri-PV, the land remains agricultural or forestry property and is assessed under Property Tax Class A; a purely ground-mounted system converts it into real estate subject to Property Tax Class B (state decrees of July 15, 2022). CAP direct payments also remain possible, provided that the land can continue to be cultivated using standard agricultural methods and machinery and the system reduces the agriculturally usable area by no more than 15 percent (Section 12(4)(6), (5) of the CAP Direct Payments Ordinance). Since 2024, DIN SPEC 91492:2024-06 has supplemented the standard with requirements for livestock farming under agri-PV.

What Types of Designs and Agri-PV Technologies Are Available?

Elevated agri-PV systems are installed with a minimum clearance of 2.10 meters above the crops, allowing even large agricultural machinery to operate underneath them. They are suitable for perennial crops such as fruit, berries, grapes, and hops, while also providing these crops with protection from hail, frost, and intense sunlight. Light-transmitting or semi-transparent PV modules precisely control the amount of light the crops receive.

Tracking systems optimize solar power production by allowing the PV modules to follow the sun’s path; this increases yield and market value, but incurs additional costs. For light-demanding crops such as grains, agri-PV systems with wider spacing between modules are necessary. Vertical agri-PV based on the Next2Sun principle arranges bifacial PV modules vertically in rows and generates its solar power primarily in the morning and evening, which smooths out the feed-in profile.

EEG Feed-in Tariffs for 2026 and BNetzA Tenders for Agri-PV

Agri-PV is defined in the EEG 2023 as a “special solar installation” under Section 48(1), sentence 1, no. 5 (arable land, perennial crops, permanent pasture). For installations up to 1 MW, the statutory reference rate of 6.59 ct/kWh applies; this serves as the basis for calculating the market premium in direct marketing. The fixed feed-in tariff of 6.19 ct/kWh applies only to systems up to 100 kW (Section 48(1), Section 49, Section 21(1)(1), Section 53(1) of the EEG 2023). These rates apply to systems commissioned between August 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026 (Federal Network Agency, as of September 21, 2026); no rates have yet been published for systems commissioned on or after January 1, 2027, as the successor regulation is currently under parliamentary review.

Larger agri-PV systems are covered by the tender for the first segment. The special rules of Solar Package I—a separate cap for specific solar systems (Section 37b(2) EEG 2023), a separate sub-segment with a capacity of 1,200 MW for 2026 (Section 37d EEG 2023) and the bonus on the statutory value (Section 48(1b) EEG 2023) — may only be applied after approval under EU state aid law (Section 101(1) EEG 2023); which has not yet been granted (Federal Network Agency, as of September 21, 2026). Consequently, for the bidding round on July 1, 2026, the maximum value of 5.90 ct/kWh and the general award procedure applied to all bids; the average volume-weighted award value was 4.79 ct/kWh. Elevated agri-PV systems (clear height of at least 2.10 m) awarded contracts between 2026 and 2028 receive a 0.5 ct/kWh surcharge on top of the awarded price (Section 38b(1), sentence 2, EEG 2023, as amended on May 15, 2024, applicable pursuant to Section 101(1), sentence 2). The articles on “Agri-PV Open-Field Investment 2026” and “Agri-PV Italy for Investors” provide further insight into the investment outlook.

Building Regulations, Land Status, and Taxes

The special provisions under Section 35(1)(9) of the German Building Code (BauGB) apply to agri-PV systems with a footprint of up to 2.5 hectares that are spatially and functionally connected to an agricultural operation, with one system per farmstead or business location. Larger projects generally require a zoning plan; exceptions are made for areas up to 200 meters in length along highways and double-track rail lines of the main network (Section 35(1)(8)(b) of the BauGB). The land allocation framework under the EEG determines eligibility for subsidies only.

For tax purposes, the tax authorities treat agri-PV as agricultural and forestry assets—with benefits regarding property tax, inheritance tax, and real estate transfer tax. For commercial operators, the investment deduction under Section 7g of the Income Tax Act (EStG) is also relevant; the guide to the investment deduction for photovoltaics explains how this interacts with the PV tax exemption.

How Much an Agri-PV System Costs and What Return on Investment Is Realistic

Whether a project falls within this range depends heavily on the design: Category I systems with tall support structures tend to be at the upper end of the range. Taller support structures, wider spacing between modules, and, in some cases, tracking systems account for the higher cost compared to a standard ground-mounted system.

For landowners, the lease is the key lever. In our portfolio, the lease rate for dual-use agri-PV in 2024 ranged from 1,000 to 3,500 euros per hectare per year (Logic Energy / Helm Group, 2024 portfolio data). The page on leasing land for solar parks provides details on the complete lease models, contract clauses, and the process.

Which crops are compatible with agri-PV

To date, agri-PV has been most widely adopted in fruit and grape cultivation as well as in berry farming, where the modules provide additional protection for high-value crops. The impact on yield depends on the crop, the year, and the system design. In Heggelbach, celery yields in 2018 were 12 percent higher than the open-field reference (Fraunhofer ISE, 2019), while potato yields ranged from −20 percent in a normal year to +11 percent in a drought year (Weselek et al. 2021). For many farms, the predictable electricity revenue offsets slight yield losses.

Seven Synergies for Agriculture

The strongest agronomic effect is evident in extreme years. Because the modules reduce evaporation and moderate crop temperature, yield losses in 2018 were lower than in a normal year—for some crops, the effect even resulted in a net gain. Preliminary one-year results from the LfL demonstration facility in Grub showed up to 10 percent higher yields for spring barley (TFZ Straubing / LfL Bavaria, April 2025).

This creates a win-win situation: Farmers secure their harvests while also generating solar power—a contribution to climate protection and the energy transition that optimizes land use and can be combined with extensive land management and nature conservation beneath the solar panels.

Market Potential in Germany and Seven Pilot Plants

Seven reference projects mark the transition from the pilot phase to the market phase—from the Fraunhofer ISE Heggelbach plant (2016) to the 4.3 MWp vertical bifacial solar park in Löffingen (2024). The range extends from 194 kWp through mixed-crop systems to multi-megawatt installations on grassland and arable land with cattle farming.

Agri-PV Research and Model Regions

This development is being driven by agri-PV research. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE built the Heggelbach research facility, Germany’s first large-scale pilot plant; the Baden-Württemberg Agri-PV Model Region is testing various agri-PV systems and crops at multiple locations; and the Bavarian State Research Institute for Agriculture (LfL Bayern) is comparing three system types at the Grub demonstration facility. This research provides the reliable yield and land-use data on which planning and economic viability are based.

International Comparison: Japan, France, Italy

Specific subsidy programs are driving expansion: While Germany regulates agri-PV through the EEG and land-use privileges, Italy offers a direct capital grant under Decree DM 436/2023. The Italian market is therefore of particular interest to investors; details, subsidy amounts, and deadlines are covered in the guide “Agri-PV in Italy as an Investment.”

Limitations and Valid Criticism of Agri-PV

The higher support structure and wider module spacing reduce the installable capacity per hectare compared to ground-mounted systems and increase the specific costs. As a result, profitability depends more heavily on the location, the crop, and the allocation of subsidies. As long as approval under subsidy regulations for the bonuses is pending, part of the calculation remains subject to uncertainty—a point that sound planning takes into account.

Agri-PV 2026–2030: EEG Amendment, CfD, and Solar Package II

For investors looking ahead to the upcoming CfD requirement, the article “The 2027 CfD Requirement for PV Investors” summarizes the implications of the transition. The guide addresses the basic logic behind returns, terms, and the direct investment structure to help determine whether photovoltaics are a worthwhile investment.

Why Choose Logic Energy for Your Agri-PV System

At Logic Energy, the entire value chain is managed by a single group: site assessment, permitting, grid connection, construction by Logic Glas GmbH, commissioning, and operation. This high level of integration reduces risk over the entire project lifespan and makes returns predictable. Logic Energy is the PV brand of Logic Glas GmbH, part of the Helm Group, which has been in existence since 1982.

FAQ

Sources and Legal Basis

• DIN SPEC 91434:2021-05 — Agri-photovoltaics, primary agricultural use

• DIN SPEC 91492:2024-06 — Agri-PV with Livestock Farming

• § 48 EEG 2023 — Solar Radiation Energy, Applicable Values

• Section 49 of the EEG 2023 — Decrease in the Applicable Rates

• Section 37b of the EEG 2023 — Maximum Values for Tenders

• Section 37d of the EEG 2023 — Subsegment: Special Solar Installations

• § 38b EEG 2023 — Base Value for the First Segment (Agri-PV Surcharge, Previous Version, pursuant to § 101(1), sentence 2)

• § 35 of the German Building Code (BauGB) — Preferential Treatment for Agri-PV Near Farms

• § 12 CAP Direct Payments Regulation — Eligibility of Agri-PV Areas for Aid

• State Decrees with Identical Wording, July 15, 2022 (BStBl I 2022, 1226) — Property Tax, Inheritance Tax, and Real Estate Transfer Tax

• Federal Network Agency — Solar Tender Process: First Segment

• Federal Network Agency — Bidding Deadline: July 1, 2026 (Maximum Value, Solar Package I)

• § 101 EEG 2023 — Requirement of Approval Under State Aid Law

• Federal Network Agency — EEG Subsidies and Subsidy Rates (as of September 21, 2026)

• Fraunhofer ISE — Agri-Photovoltaics Guide

• Fraunhofer ISE — Study on Electricity Generation Costs in 2024

• TFZ Straubing / LfL Bavaria — Grub Agri-PV Pilot Plant

• Trommsdorff et al. 2021, *Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews*

• Weselek et al. 2021, *Agronomy for Sustainable Development*

• Next2Sun GmbH — Vertical Bifacial Agri-PV

• Helm Group / Logic Energy — Portfolio Data 2024 (Return, Lease; Internal Data)

Location

Logic Glas GmbH
Brand: Logic Energy

Am Anger 1
96364 Marktrodach
Germany

Contact

Email: info@logicenergy.de
Phone: +49 9261 62620
Fax: +49 9261 626262

The contracting party for PV direct investments is mediplan Helm e.K. (registered business entity; personal liability pursuant to Sections 1, 17, and 19 of the German Commercial Code (HGB)).