The Czech government is poised to approve the installation of solar panels on agricultural land, a pioneering move that marks a new trend in farming. These photovoltaic panels will be placed in orchards, vineyards, and other areas where crops and food are grown, providing farmers with a renewable energy solution. This initiative not only allows farmers to use the electricity generated by the panels for their own needs but also offers the option to supply it to the public grid, similar to other solar panel owners. Additionally, the panels will provide necessary shade to many crops.

Minister of the Environment Petr Hladík (KDU-ČSL) believes that agrovoltaic power plants are ideal for permanent crops such as hop fields and fruit orchards, as these crops require less intensive agricultural work and are less susceptible to shading than annual crops. The Ministry of the Environment has prepared a new regulation to protect agricultural land during the installation of agrovoltaic systems.

The placement of photovoltaic panels on agricultural land will require approval from the organization responsible for protecting agricultural soil, which can be a municipality or a region, in addition to the Ministry of Agriculture. The panels must be positioned so as not to damage the ground and should allow the field to be restored to its original state.

According to the Ministry’s estimates, these panels could eventually cover up to 70,000 hectares of land, with each hectare generating one megawatt of power. However, not all farmers are enthusiastic about this initiative. Some believe that solar panels should be primarily installed on the roofs of agricultural buildings. If they are used on agricultural land, they should be restricted to permanent crops such as vineyards and hop fields.

Moreover, concerns have been raised about potential exploitation by large energy companies that do not engage in farming activities, leading to the abuse of subsidies intended for supporting agriculture. Despite the skepticism, agrovoltaic projects have already been successfully implemented in Germany, and in the Czech Republic, a mining and energy company, MND, is preparing a project that combines renewable energy production with agriculture, planting grapevines on reclaimed land previously used for mining activities.

The government’s efforts to integrate renewable energy sources into the farming sector have the potential to revolutionize the way farmers produce and utilize electricity, contributing to a more sustainable and eco-friendly future for agriculture in the Czech Republic.

Article by Prague Forum