Land Use: Wind, Solar & AgriPV
Compare wind turbines, solar on land and water, and agri-photovoltaics. Use the calculator with country, contract length and area – lease or self-invest.
Comparison: Wind, Solar Land, Solar Water, AgriPV
🌀 Wind
Wind turbines on agricultural land. Dual use: farming continues under the turbines.
☀️ Solar land
Ground-mounted PV on arable or grassland. High lease values, typically 20–30 years.
🌊 Solar water
Floating PV on quarry lakes, gravel pits or reservoirs. Relevant for farmers with water bodies.
🌾 AgriPV
Dual use: power generation and farming on the same area. Up to 85% CAP support possible.
Calculator: Lease or self-invest?
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Technology
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Pros and cons by technology
Overview of benefits and drawbacks of wind, solar land, solar water and AgriPV.
🌀 Wind
- ✓High lease per hectare
- ✓Dual use: farming under turbines possible
- ✓Long contract terms (20–30 years)
- ✓Stable income
- −Permitting can be lengthy
- −Setback distances required
- −Local acceptance may be an issue
☀️ Solar land
- ✓High lease (€2,000–7,000/ha/year)
- ✓Easier permitting than wind
- ✓Quick to deploy
- −Land not available for cropping
- −Ground-mounted rules vary by country/region
🌊 Solar water
- ✓No competition with cropland
- ✓Water cooling can boost yield
- ✓Higher lease possible on water bodies
- −Only suitable water bodies
- −Technology more expensive than ground-mounted
- −Environmental rules vary by site
🌾 AgriPV
- ✓Dual use: power and farming
- ✓Up to 85% CAP support possible
- ✓Shade can protect crops
- ✓Higher revenue per hectare
- −Higher investment than ground-mounted
- −Farming under structure required
- −Support schemes vary by country
Public funding & CAP support
Where and how wind, solar and AgriPV are supported across the EU and regions.
EU CAP and national schemes affect the economics of wind, solar and AgriPV. AgriPV can retain up to 85% CAP support in several member states where the area remains in agricultural use.
- 🇩🇪 Germany: Germany: EEG 2023, Solarpaket I; AgriPV eligible for CAP in several regions; ground-mounted solar on conversion and marginal land.
- 🇫🇷 France: France: AgriPV in tenders (APP), regional schemes; dual use considered in auctions.
- 🇮🇹 Italy: Italy: National and regional support for AgriPV; focus on southern Italy and dual use.
- 🇪🇸 Spain: Spain: CAP application for AgriPV varies by region; strong solar deployment targets.
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands: Netherlands: SDE++, AgriPV in pilot programmes; high acceptance for dual use.
EU-wide: CAP 2023–2027 allows direct payments to be retained under conditions for AgriPV. National implementation and regional programmes differ – site-specific checks recommended.
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