The centre, located in Hiltpoltstein, grows sweet cherries. To protect this delicate fruit, they have now installed a photovoltaic canopy with a capacity of 24.84 kW. The modules were mounted at a height of four metres using a mounting system supplied by the manufacturer T.Werk. T.Werk is investigating the effects of different light conditions under three rows of 48 percent transparent modules, three further rows of 33 percent transparent modules, and a control field without agri-PV. Commissioning took place on 10 October 2025. The photo shows Markus Ziegler (left), Managing Director of T.Werk GmbH, and Paul Katterbe, who is responsible for business development in the agri-PV sector.
Jonas Maußner, Operations Manager at the Fruit Information Centre, expects the agri-PV system to increase crop yields: »Heavy rainfall during the harvest season causes cherries to burst, rendering them unsuitable for sale. The solar roof is intended to provide protection here,’ says Maußner. ‘Sunburn in extreme heat and damage from late frosts could also be minimised by agri-PV.’ The Fruit Information Centre uses the electricity generated for its own consumption in the farm building.
The ‘Artemis’ agri-PV series from T.Werk is a flexible mounting system that can be adapted to different agricultural practices. ‘Artemis Alpha’ is particularly suitable for animal husbandry, while ‘Artemis Beta’ is ideal for growing special crops, trees, shrubs, and vegetables. The height and row spacing depend on the intended use and the necessary machinery. ‘Artemis’ complies with the DIN SPEC 91434 standard, and according to T.Werk it guarantees continued payment of area premiums.
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