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 has been established at the Campus Bernburg in order to examine the compatibility of vertical PV panels, crop production with wildflower strips on arable land.

Within one year after seeding, many of the introduced wild plant species have been detected. The establishment success of the sown species and the different seed mixtures are evaluated by vegetation surveys.

The innovative and sustainable triple-use approach AgriPVplus aims to reduce land use conflicts between agriculture, energy production and biodiversity, as well as to promote biodiversity in the agricultural landscape. As a sub-goal of the BIODIV-SOLAR project, a test facility has therefore being constructed at the Bernburg site of Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, where vertically mounted bifacial photovoltaic modules are integrated into agricultural field crop cultivation and combined with species-rich wildflower strips.The AgriPVplus system will be used to test new photovoltaic module technologies, various seed mixtures for wildflower strips and the cultivation of drought-resistant crops.

Floristic enhancements were implemented on an Agri-PV system near Hohlstedt. The establishment of the introduced site adapted native seed mixtures is scientifically monitored.For further information on the topic of Agri-Photovoltaics, visit our network AgriPVplus.

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).

Preparations for establishing flower-rich wild plant structures in the selected solar farms began in March 2022. The existing vegetation was intensively disturbed to create favourable germination and establishment conditions for the seeding species. To achieve this, the gaps between the modules and the module-free areas in each solar park were milled.

After site preparation, site adapted native seed mixtures were sown using equipment of varying sizes, depending on the site. The seed mixtures consisted of low-growing, perennial and site-adapted native wild plant species.

To ensure the growth of the seedlings wasn't hindered by overshadowing, the vegetation was regularly trimmed.

During the project, species- and blossomrich grasslands were developed in most of the demonstrators.