Led by Prof. Dr. Sabine Tischew, the project bundles expertise of different departments of the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences.

The task of the working group „biodiversity“ is to develop site adapted native seed mixtures from regional production to support species- and blossomrich grasslands. The seed mixtures as well as different management regimes will be tested in cooperation with the operators of the photovoltaic systems.

Furthermore, the working group „photovoltaic“ led by Prof. Dr. Ralph Gottschalg focuses energy aspects of various rack systems and mounting distances of solar pannels. Therefore innovative concepts for the measurement of abiotic parameters will be developed.

Additionally, an agrivoltaic test plant will be established at the Campus Bernburg in order to examine the compatibility of vertical PV panels, crop production with wildflower strips on arable land.

The aims of the research project is to develop an overall concept integrating economic viability and biodiversity as well as options for agricultural uses.

Within an interdisciplinary approach the project will:

1. promotes biodiversity and ecosystem services and optimize energy production of ground mounted photovoltaic systems
2. enables the integration of compensatory measures in solar farms
3. offers new opportunities for value creation for agriculture

The studies within the project take place in six solar farms in the eastern Germany federal states Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony and Brandenburg. As demonstators these solar farms will offer a wide applicability of research findings for various site conditions (for example different soil conditions).

As a project result an open-source web-based planning tool for biodiverse PV power plants will be accessible for engeneers and operators of photovoltaic systems.

The demonstrators will illustrate high quality measures to promote biodiversity in ground mounted PV systems for the public.