Germany's Agri Energie has started an agricultural PV project in Hallertau near Munich, Bavaria, Germany. The €1.5 million ($1.64 million) project combines solar power with hop growing. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems and the Weinstein-Trisdorf University of Applied Sciences are supporting Agri Energy in developing the facility. The facility will occupy an area of 1.3 hectares and generate enough electricity to power around 200 households.

The company installed photovoltaic systems on steel masts to provide protection for the hop plants from the sun and hail, while also reducing evaporation. In addition, the system provides support for the hop plants.

"This pilot project will provide us with many valuable insights, which are closely related to future agricultural photovoltaic projects," said Bavarian Economy Minister Hubert Aiwanger. "The local potential is also great. After all, the Hallertau region grows 17,200 hectares of hops."

In July this year, France's Q Energy Company installed an agricultural photovoltaic device on 1 hectare of land in the town of Luçon, France, for the growth of hops.