EWS Sonnenfeld - Bruck/Leitha (Lower Austria), Agri-PV reference plant

The 5 ha Agri-Photovoltaics research and demonstration plant is a cooperation project between Energiepark Bruck/Leitha GmbH and EWS Consulting GmbH.

Agri-PV-Anlage EWS Sonnenfeld Bruck/Leitha, EWS Consulting GmbH franz

Poppy blossom at the EWS Sonnenfeld Bruck/Leitha at the beginning of June 2023.

Sunflower culture between the rows of module tables folded up high.

Winter grain between solar panels. In normal operation, the solar catchers follow the sun's path during the course of the day.

Long rows, controllable module tables and GPS-controlled farming equipment enable trouble-free cultivation between PV components.

At the trade days in June 2023 at the EWS Sonnenfeld in Bruck/Leitha, we were able to show how farming and electricity from the farm works. In the picture, the module tables are positioned horizontally so that the tractor and the seeder can pass through the cultivation rows easily and with the least risk of stones falling on the modules.

Management plan for the first three years.

[Translate to English:] Agri-PV-Anlage EWS Sonnenfeld Bruck/Leitha, EWS Consulting GmbH franz

[Translate to English:] [Translate to English:] Bewirtschaftungsplan am EWS Sonnenfeld Bruck/Leitha für die ersten drei Jahre.

EWS_Consulting_GmbH_Sonnenfeld_Aussaat_BluehstreifenSowing flower strips

EWS_Consulting_GmbH_Sonnenfeld_grubbern

Agri-PV plant EWS Sonnenfeld Bruck/Leitha, EWS Consulting GmbH franz

Opening and commissioning on 10 November 2022. f.l.t.r. Michael Hannesschläger, GF Energiepark Bruck/Leitha GmbH_Joachim Payr, Produktentwickler EWS Sonnenfeld® und GS EWS Consulting GmbH, Klimaschutzministerin Leonore Gewessler, Landwirtschaftsminister Norbert Totschnig, LAbg. Gerhard Schödinger, Ingmar Höbarth, GF Klima- und Energiefonds

Occupancy plan of reserach plant EWS Sonnenfeld - Bruck an der Leitha

EWS_Consulting_GmbH_Sonnenfeld_Bruck_DrohneBird's eye view of the EWS Sonnenfeld Bruck/Leitha, which was opened and put into operation on 10.11.2022.

As a particularly innovative "model and flagship project for photovoltaics", the EWS Sonnenfeld - Bruck an der Leitha was awarded by the Climate and Energy Fund's jury of experts in August 2021. After two years of product development, the project will start in October 2021.

Research and demonstration plant

Together with Energiepark Bruck and the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences as partners, research will be carried out in the pilot plant in the coming years to determine which plant cultures and forms of cultivation are best suited to simultaneous PV production.

Even though the technical PV components have already been tested for many years, there are still some outstanding questions regarding the combination with agricultural use. Among other things, a wide variety of technical designs of PV systems will also be used.

The project serves research and demonstration purposes for the market introduction of agri-PV systems on good arable land and grassland.

In particular, this system is intended to test and optimise the current development status of the EWS Sonnenfeld® in practice for the agricultural use of different crops and types of cultivation. In order to be able to investigate the effects on electricity yields and agricultural yields, the movable module table rows will be installed with different centre distances: 8, 11 and 14 m centre distances (research zones 2-4).
In order to be able to investigate the effects on biodiversity and the effects on agricultural yields accordingly, two reference areas are also considered: A fallow land (research zone 7) as well as an area that is cultivated agriculturally but on which no module tables are installed (research zone 6).
To be able to compare the electricity yields of the mobile module tables with the electricity yields of permanently installed systems, a rigid south-facing (research zone 5), a rigid east-west double tables (research zone 8) and a rigid south-east-facing (research zone 1) are also set up on the project site.
Furthermore, the higher and lower yields of bifacial and monofacial modules will be investigated for different flowering strip compositions and crops.

The solar field and the two reference plots will be equipped with various sensors and measuring instruments in order to be able to investigate the influence of diverse parameters, such as precipitation, water availability, soil moisture, partial shade intensity, photosynthetic radiation, temperature, wind speed, etc., on agricultural management and the yields of the different crops.

Eight research zones on the EWS Sonnenfeld Bruck/Leitha

Research area: 5,5 ha, divided into 8 sections

1 - South-east orientation rigid slope 20°
2 - Sun field with 6 m cultivation width
3 - Sun field with 12 m cultivation width
4 - Sun field with 9 m cultivation width
5 - South orientation rigid inclination 20°
6 - Undeveloped reference area with agricultural cultivation
7 - Reference area fallow
8 - East-west orientation rigid inclination 16°

* You can see where the different zones are located in the occupancy plan in the foto galery.

Status: in operation since 10.11.2022