Livestock agrivoltaic structure

for sheepfor crops

Overview
AgriPV (Agricultural Photovoltaics) combines photovoltaic energy production with agricultural land use to enable simultaneous food and energy outputs. Implementations range from simple land‑sharing arrays to fully integrated, elevated agrivoltaic installations that support crop production, livestock grazing and pollinator habitats while optimising land efficiency.

How it works
AgriPV systems deploy photovoltaic panels above or beside agricultural plots in configurations adapted to site conditions, local regulation and farming practices. Design options include elevated rows that permit machinery and animals to pass beneath, adjustable-tilt arrays for crop light management, and tightly integrated shade/crop arrangements.

Benefits

• Environmental: Panel shading can moderate microclimates, lower evapotranspiration, reduce soil erosion and support biodiversity, aiding sustainable farming practices.
• Economic: Diversifies farm revenues through energy production, can create local jobs and contribute to regional income.
• Agronomic: Enables land co‑use, provides controlled shade for shade‑tolerant crops, reduces water loss and can protect crops from extreme weather.
• Land optimisation: Increases productive output per hectare where land availability is limited.

Statkraft's role and initiatives
Statkraft conducts AgriPV research and operates the internal AgriPower Initiative to develop methods, monitoring tools and project guidance for agrivoltaic deployment. The company engages in field trials and partnerships to collect operational data and best practices.

Research and evidence
Statkraft contributed to a sheep‑grazing study (2022–2023) with CVE and INRAE to assess effects of PV installations on animal behaviour, health and environment. Key findings included:

• No negative changes in daily sheep activities attributable to panels.
• Panels provided shade that reduced heat stress and extended grazing windows.
• Sheep health metrics remained stable during the study period.
• Operational adjustments addressed initial injury risks.
• Panels offered frost protection benefits in certain conditions.

Challenges
Common challenges are upfront capital expenditure, maintenance needs and assessing site‑specific impacts on crop yields and farm operations. Addressing these requires detailed planning, monitoring and stakeholder collaboration.

Why now?
Policy targets for greenhouse‑gas reduction, energy security concerns and market incentives increase demand for renewable generation. Analyses indicate that limited conversion of farmland to AgriPV could substantially raise solar capacity at regional scale, subject to feasibility and regulation.

Case studies & examples
Statkraft provides field examples, photo‑documented pilot projects and study reports illustrating practical implementations and monitored outcomes from AgriPV trials.

Technical characteristics

• Name/concept: AgriPV (Agricultural Photovoltaics)
• Primary operator/brand: Statkraft
• Typical uses: crop cultivation, livestock grazing (including sheep), pollinator habitats, combined food-and-energy production
• Design variants: elevated, land‑sharing, and fully integrated agrivoltaic systems adapted to local site conditions
• Environmental effects: shading, reduced evapotranspiration, soil erosion prevention, biodiversity benefits
• Economic aspects: additional revenue streams for farmers, potential local employment and tax revenues
• Research: sheep grazing study (2022–2023) with CVE and INRAE; published report available
• Initiatives: AgriPower Initiative (Statkraft internal programme for agrivoltaic development)
• Policy/scale note: cited analyses suggest EU‑scale potential from limited farmland use (order‑of‑magnitude potential in the hundreds of GW), subject to local feasibility and regulation