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Evaluation of Mechanized Field Operations and Work System Efficiency in German Agri-Photovoltaic Applications
Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org
Citation: 2026 ASABE Annual International Meeting 2600009.(doi:10.13031/aim.202600009)Authors: Heinz Bernhardt, Yassine Louchi, Christina Maria Sebald, Christoph Bader, Johannes Apfelböck, Simon Grebner
Keywords: Agri-PV, field strips, work organization, machine width
Abstract. The adoption of agri-photovoltaic (AgriPV) systems in Germany has accelerated significantly in recent years, driven by policy frameworks and market incentives promoting dual land use for agricultural production and renewable energy generation. While AgriPV systems offer clear ecological and economic benefits, the structural integration of elevated photovoltaic modules into crop production systems imposes constraints on machinery movement, field logistics, and the overall efficiency of agricultural work systems. Consequently, many conventional field operations, including tillage, sowing, crop protection, fertilization, and harvesting must be reassessed with regard to machinery compatibility, maneuvering requirements, and operational performance under the specific conditions imposed by AgriPV infrastructure. This study investigates the effects of various AgriPV design parameters on mechanized field operations and provides a comprehensive evaluation of work system efficiency on representative German AgriPV farms.
The analysis focused on three primary dimensions: (1) physical constraints imposed by AgriPV system geometry, including module height, support structure spacing, and row layouts; (2) operational impacts on efficiency factors such as effective field capacity, machine utilization, turning time, and overlap; and (3) organizational implications regarding work schedule flexibility, labor requirements, and the integration of specialized machinery.
The results indicate that AgriPV installations can reduce effective technical field capacity depending on crop type, implement width, row spacing, and the density of support structures. The most pronounced limitations occur in operations involving large implements or high turning frequency, such as mechanical weeding or crop protection applications, where restricted maneuverability increases non-productive time. In contrast, operations with predominantly linear travel patterns, such as sowing or fertilization, are generally less affected if AgriPV geometry is aligned with conventional implement working widths. Observations and operational adaptations show that many farms adopt modified work strategies, including reduced implement widths, adjusted driving lanes, or the use of smaller and/or autonomous machinery to improve accessibility.
Despite these constraints, several optimization potentials for AgriPV-compatible mechanization emerge, including standardized AgriPV layouts coordinated with regional machinery dimensions, optimized support structure spacing to reduce bottlenecks, and increased adoption of robotic and precision agriculture technologies for labor-intensive operations in confined spaces. Additionally, adaptive work organization and optimized field logistics can partially mitigate efficiency losses.
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