Potential of Agrivoltaics in the EU under Different Regulation Scenarios

The use of agricultural land for photovoltaic (PV) deployment has raised concerns, as rising installation rates intensify competition between food and energy production. To address this, several countries have introduced restrictions on PV use in agriculture. Agrivoltaics (AgriPV) offer a promising alternative by enabling the dual use of land for food cultivation and renewable electricity generation. Estimates of the technical potential vary widely: the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission calculated 944 GWp for 1% of the Utilized Agricultural Area (UAA) in the EU [1], while Danish researchers estimated up to 51 TWp if the entire UAA were used [2]. Unlike studies focused on maximum potential, this work evaluates a more restricted AgriPV potential, explicitly shaped by regulations designed to safeguard agricultural activity and food security. The analysis estimates a “minimal” potential by systematically excluding unsuitable land and applying regulatory constraints such as crop suitability, yield preservation, and ground coverage ratios. Even under the most stringent scenarios, the remaining potential remains significant, corresponding to 34% of the REPowerEU 2030 solar target. These results show that AgriPV can make a meaningful contribution to Europe’s decarbonisation strategy without undermining agricultural production.