Agnès Pannier-Runacher promises “vigilance” on the development of agrivoltaism

“We will be particularly vigilant,” assured the minister while visiting a pilot site in Verdonnet (Côte d’Or). “No energy activity should take precedence over agricultural activity,” she declared after visiting an “agricultural canopy” (a field covered with solar panels) of three hectares of wheat set up by the French group TSE and which produces nearly 3 megawatts of electricity per year.

The implementing decree governing agrivoltaism will be promulgated "at the end of March", just after passing through the Council of State on March 26, which will not pose a problem, according to the minister.

This decree, which comes twenty months after the law encouraging renewable energies, provides for "prohibitions if the project is contrary to agricultural production" and prevents "opportunistic" projects from developers who could try to take advantage of the energy windfall by inventing farmer.

In particular, it sets the maximum surface area of ​​agricultural land covered by solar panels at 40%, except for projects which have already largely proven themselves.

The decree also provides that the yield of agricultural production associated with an agrivoltaic project cannot decline by more than 10%.

Agrivoltaism arouses strong criticism among some farmers, the Confédération paysanne, in particular, refusing to allow farmers to serve as an "alibi" for the development of solar energy. The union denounces projects that are so well paid that they push farmers to abandon their crops or livestock in favor of “easy” money.

“Agrivoltaism provides stable income over long periods, a contract being 25 years,” answers Ms. Pannier-Runacher.

The electricity producer pays rent to the owner of the land (1.000 to 1.500 euros per year per hectare on average), or around ten times more than rental rent.

“This helps stabilize agricultural operations at a time when they are faced with climate change,” according to the minister.

She also assured that “sanctions” are planned for a project that does not respect the rules. This aspect will be the subject of a decree, still in the "consultation phase", which will be "published in the coming weeks", she declared.