Germany’s Agri Energia has set up a pilot production facility near Munich to protect hop plants from sunlight and hail and reduce evaporation. It is installed on steel masts that act as a support for the hop plants.
Germany’s Agri Energie has commissioned an agricultural electricity project in Hallertau, near Munich, in the German state of Bavaria. The 1.5 million euro ($1.64 million) project combines solar production with hop growth.
Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences supported Agri Energie in the development of the facility, which has an area of ​​1.3 hectares. It produces enough solar energy for the needs of about 200 households.
The company installed a solar power system on steel poles, which protects the hop plants from sunlight and hail while reducing evaporation. In addition, the system works as a support for hop plants.
“This pilot project provides us with numerous valuable insights that are very important for future agricultural projects,” said Bavarian Economy Minister Hubert Aiwanger. “The local potential is also huge. Hops are grown in Hallertau on 17,200 hectares.”
In July, Q Energy France commissioned an agroelectric plant to grow hops on a 1 hectare site in the city of Luçon, France.
