Solar PV systems company Corab SA and renewable energy projects developer Kelfield have entered a partnership to build over 1 GW of agrivoltaic projects in Poland, which the local media calls as the largest investment of this kind in the European country.
According to their plans, they want to develop free-standing vertical structures on meadows and pastures in West Pomeranian and Pomerania provinces on land that's difficult to cultivate.
It will be an additional source of income for farmers who choose to have such installations on their farmland, even as these structures protect crops from extreme weather conditions, say the partners. Owners of the land can also get such systems to generate their own electricity thus bringing down their electricity costs and their dependence on the grid.
The duo has signed a letter of intent to collaborate on these projects with Corab bringing in technological solutions as the manufacturer of PV solutions. The cost of components used is estimated to be around PLN 300 million ($73.7 million). Kelfield will provide its EPC services. The latter will also be using its experience to bring in financial investments and obtain authorizations.
They stress that the government needs to bring in a regulatory structure for dual use of land for this purpose so Poland can exploit its agrivoltaics potential.
Recently, the SolarPower Europe launched its Agrisolar Best Practices report intended as a guidance for the deployment of sustainable practices for solar industry stakeholders (see Expanding Agrivoltaics' Reach In Europe).