LIFE Adaptation with Photovoltaics

Introduction

The ever more frequent extreme weather threatens agriculture in the EU, endangering food security and farmers’ livelihood. Conventional crop protection like plastic tunnels no longer suffice and may even aggravate the climate change effects, causing crop losses from tunnel collapse and heat build-up. There is an urgent need for effective and cost-efficient climate-adaptation measures that can be scaled up rapidly.

Project Overview

LIFE ADAPT-PV demonstrates such a measure for fruit cultivation. A robust, permanent steel structure equipped with translucent photovoltaic panels made of hardened glass is built over crops. To accelerate the roll out, a financing model has been developed that attracts investment from the energy sector into agriculture.

Benefits of ADAPT-PV

ADAPT-PV provides several benefits:

1. Crops are protected from extreme precipitation and storms.
2. A stabler microclimate protects crops from extreme heat and frost, reduces pesticides, and improves working conditions.
3. Farmers can use it without a major investment, enabling accelerated adaptation.
4. Sustainable energy is produced, generating revenues that render the investment profitable for investors.
5. Dual land use (crop cultivation and energy generation) contributes to sustainable land use policies.
6. Plastic waste is reduced.

Next Steps

The proof of concept of ADAPT-PV has been delivered in small pilots. Now it is necessary to take the next step: demonstrate the effectiveness of ADAPT-PV in 3 climate areas on a business operation scale representative for fruit holdings across Europe.

Potential Impact

The total area in the EU that can benefit from ADAPT-PV is approximately 66,619 ha. The lead beneficiary, BayWa r.e., is an innovation leader and aims for 1,450 ha, 5 years after the project. As the concept will not be exclusive, other companies can step in, with the ultimate potential of adapting 8,700 ha after 5 years. With this, ADAPT-PV will be an important catalyst for large-scale investment in crop protection with photovoltaics.