Sustainable innovation: First hop PV system presented in Neuhub
Sustainable innovation: First hop PV system presented in Neuhub
Innovative approaches in agriculture: Hopf-PV system in Neuhub
The connection between agriculture and renewable energies is increasingly becoming the focus of public discussions. The Solarfreunde Moosburg recently visited the first of their kind: a hop PV system in Neuhub near Au/Hallertau. This initiative shows how innovative techniques have the potential to change both agriculture and energy production sustainably.
the impulse of Josef Wimmer
The farmer Josef Wimmer from Neuhub is the head behind this future -oriented project. Since 2016 he has been pursuing the idea of using the scaffolding of his hop plants to install photovoltaics (PV) modules. Wimmer realized that the PV modules not only contribute to electricity generation, but also offer protection against excessive sunlight.
complexity of the AGRI PV technology
A complex topic such as AGRI PV requires sound knowledge and empirical data. During the excursion, Dr. Bernhard Gruber from Hallertauer Handelshaus and Manuel Riedl, who is responsible for research, open visitors about many aspects of the project. This also included answers to questions about crop protection and the statics of the system, whereby some of the assumptions taken was based on experience, since it was lacking in specific data.
Together for a sustainable future
In order to minimize the risks and successfully carry out the project, Wimmer founded Agrarenergie GmbH & Co. KG as an operating company. This assumed all financial responsibility and government funding was dispensed with. The opportunities that arise from the connection between hop cultivation and solar power could contribute to the economic strengthening of the region.
Scientific support and future perspectives
The project is supported by renowned institutions such as the Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences and the Fraunhofer Institute. This cooperation is intended to ensure that meaningful data for the development of hop cultivation are collected under the PV modules. The aim is to examine the effects on plants and the nature of the soil in order to develop efficient cultivation methods for the future.
conclusion: a model for other regions?
The hop PV system in Neuhub could serve as a model for other rural regions that have to master similar challenges in agriculture and energy supply. Through innovative solutions such as this, not only the need for a sustainable energy future, but also shown how agriculture and climate protection can go hand in hand.
- Nag