Solar parks on farmland: green electricity at the expense of food?

Some farmers see leasing their open spaces as an opportunity to diversify and stabilize their income – as does the farmer in Walshausen, who was quite enthusiastic about the idea right from the start of having Prokon solar parks built on his farmland. The somewhat steep field was difficult to cultivate and dried out quickly in summer anyway. Moreover, he liked the idea of supporting the generation of green power and thus being part of the solution.

Also crucial for the evaluation is the question of what quality the soils of the arable land have and how the land was previously used. Indeed, not all soils are suitable for direct food production. In fact, a large part of the cultivation areas serves for feed production, as figures from the Federal Information Centre for Agriculture show: In total, on around ten million hectares, which represents about 60 percent of Germany's agriculturally used land, feed for livestock is produced. And this has rather negative effects on the climate. For example, the production of one kilogram of beef emits more than 13 kilograms of CO2 equivalents. In comparison, energy production from solar parks is significantly more efficient, according to the Hessian Ministry of Economic Affairs, up to 40 times higher than the cultivation of maize for biogas plants.

In principle, solar parks are planned on fallow farmland or alongside railway lines and motorways. However, in some regions, brownfield sites known as priority areas, such as farmland and grassland with limited soil quality, are also being considered. While environmental organizations such as NABU prefer the expansion of photovoltaics on rooftops, they acknowledge that this simply isn't sufficient for the energy transition. Therefore, a solar park construction that is as nature-friendly as possible is all the more important. This can be realised, for example, by integrating habitats between the panels or planning gaps to allow larger animals to cross the solar park.

With conscientious planning, the construction of solar parks on farmland can even mean an increase in biodiversity compared to previously intensively cultivated fields. For example, at the solar park in Walshausen, Prokon has implemented large-scale compensatory measures to protect the skylark and whinchat, which will be permanently maintained. In addition, the fence has been designed in a way that does not act as a barrier to native small mammals, allowing them to continue using their usual paths. AgriPV is also being experimented with occasionally, which involves dual land use for the cultivation of fruits or vegetables alongside photovoltaics.

The use of agricultural land for solar parks represents a promising opportunity to drive forward the energy transition without compromising food production. A holistic approach that also takes into account local biodiversity can optimise agricultural use and simultaneously minimise the ecological footprint. The solar park by Prokon in Walshausen demonstrates how innovative projects can serve as a model for a more sustainable future.