Agri-PV System in Schönefeld Officially Commissioned

Berlin, September 8, 2026. This marks a milestone on the path toward reconciling agriculture, renewable energy production, and nature conservation: Today, Germany’s largest agri-photovoltaic project combined with crop farming went into operation on approximately 76 hectares of land owned by Berliner Stadtgüter GmbH (BSG) in the Selchow district of the municipality of Schönefeld. 74,064 solar modules generate green electricity annually for about 16,500 households and help reduce CO2 emissions by a good 21,500 metric tons. At least 90 percent of the land is farmed organically.

For State Secretary Dr. Severin Fischer of the Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy, and Public Enterprises, “the commissioning of the Agri-PV system in Berlin-Schönefeld marks a significant step toward the expansion of photovoltaics and the sustainable use of land in the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan region.” Especially in light of this year’s hot summer, this innovative project demonstrates how the energy transition and adaptation to climate change can be approached together—because Agri-PV combines both: We protect agricultural land and crops from increasing heat and drought while simultaneously generating clean, locally produced electricity. This facility thus serves as a prime example of an energy policy that brings together energy security, climate protection, and sustainable agriculture. I am particularly pleased that Berliner Stadtgüter GmbH has taken the initiative here, setting a good example and playing a part in this flagship project by making its land available. The stakeholders involved are thus demonstrating how joint, sustainable solutions are becoming a reality in the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan region.”

For Berliner Stadtgüter GmbH, this is the first Agri-PV system on its land and a pilot project that serves as a model. “Land is a valuable and scarce resource. With this project, we are demonstrating how regional agriculture, the energy transition, and the promotion of biodiversity can be harmonized on a single plot of land,” emphasizes BSG Managing Director Katrin Stary.

On an area roughly the size of 106 soccer fields, Elysium Solar GmbH, in collaboration with GOLDBECK SOLAR GmbH, installed 74,000 solar modules mounted on 3.50-meter-high supports over an 11-month construction period. The rows of modules are oriented in a north-south direction so that the modules can track the sun. This enables a 25 to 30 percent higher electricity yield than fixed modules and delivers economically significant output, particularly during off-peak hours.

The system design supports agricultural use. The spacing between the rows of modules is 11 meters—wider than average. Approximately nine meters are available for agricultural use. Directly beneath the module racks, species-rich wildflower strips will be created using regionally sourced seeds, providing habitats and refuges for insects and small animals. Outside the project site, Berliner Stadtgüter GmbH is also making 17 hectares of its land available near the towns of Ragow and Deutsch Wusterhausen as a compensatory measure to support the settlement of breeding birds, particularly the skylark. The Agri-PV project is to receive scientific support from, among others, the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and the Technical University of Dresden, with backing from the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN).

“Our holistic project development—combining solar energy, organic farming with accompanying research, and measures to enhance biodiversity and regional participation all on the same site—is setting new standards for acceptance in the energy and agricultural transitions,” emphasizes Richard Härtel, COO of Elysium Solar.

In addition to the wide row spacing and the particularly tall panels, the system offers further benefits for agriculture. The “roof” of solar modules protects the field from heavy rain and extreme sunlight, thereby helping to reduce soil dryness and erosion. “We need innovative solutions to address the consequences of climate change. Continuing business as usual on Brandenburg’s farmland will hardly be possible in the future,” explains organic farmer Sven Geelhaar of the Geelhaar Estate, who will be farming the land. “I’ve always been interested in Agri-PV. I’m excited about the opportunity to try out this new form of farming.”