Agrosolari – The priority is to invest in new solutions, but food production must not be jeopardized

Croatia is one of ten countries in the European Union with a legal framework for the introduction of agrosolar technology, but its farmers and analysts are still unsure how much can be achieved by using electricity from this renewable source.

Agrosolari are solar panels that are installed on agricultural land or alongside crops. They convert solar energy into electricity, which is then used in agricultural activities.

– There are many uncertainties about how this works – says Marko Karoglan, a professor at the Faculty of Agriculture in Zagreb.

That is why agronomists, farmers, companies specializing in renewable energy, and local, regional, and national decision-makers gathered last week in Šibenik at the 4th Mediterranean Agricultural Forum AGROMED.

– We realized that it is important to bring them all together. We cannot ignore this 21st-century technology – says the forum leader and political scientist Vedran Obućina.

In Croatia, there is only one livestock farm in Ivancu, in the north of the country, that uses agrosolari.

– This is a new technology about which we do not have much knowledge. We still do not know what can be achieved with these agrosolari – notes Obućina.

Professor Karoglan gave a lecture on what agrosolari are, how they function, and what their advantages and disadvantages are. After that, two panels were held discussing the state of agrosolari from a legislative perspective and from the perspective of entrepreneurs and innovators dealing with this topic.

– Investments in agrosolari are very interesting because agricultural production has never been under greater risks – stated Silvijo Šimon, a representative of the Ministry of Agriculture. The risks are climate change and the consequent changes in crop rotation, land, and even production timing. Harvests in vineyards are starting unusually early, already in mid-August.

Agrosolari, as a renewable energy source, are considered a way to combat climate change.

– The priority is to invest in new solutions for these challenges, but food production must not be jeopardized – added Šimon.

Yield is the amount of grains, fruits, and vegetables obtained from a certain area of land. Experiences from Germany and France have shown that agrosolari are inefficient if the yield through them is less than 66 percent.

– In that case, it is necessary to dismantle the agrosolari – said Karoglan. Croatia is learning from other countries, but even there the application is not long enough to draw clear conclusions. One of the major concerns is the impact of electricity on animals, so the question is how it affects, for example, sheep or bees.

On a global level, over 1 terawatt-hour of electricity in agricultural production is obtained through agrosolari.

Parts of Croatia are not suitable for agrosolari

– Most of Croatia is not adaptable to agrosolari – said Karoglan. The application in Adriatic Croatia is not as promising as in continental Croatia because the energy system is not sufficiently developed, and the areas are different. In Adriatic Croatia, the terrain is rocky, unlike the rich fertile fields.

– Not all agricultural crops are suitable for agrosolari – noted the professor. Horticulture and gardening will not be the focus of agrosolari, but olive growing, viticulture, and fishing will.

Given the significant differences in varieties and crops that exist in Croatia, the question of return on investment in agrosolari has arisen, and companies that produce them expect a return on investment within 5 to 7 years.

Farmers, on the other hand, are skeptical about the introduction of agrosolari.

– This is part of the cultural story in Croatia, but also an experience. Given that all governments in history have betrayed the peasantry – says Obućina. He believes that the introduction of agrosolari should not be a “private story”.

– Agrosolari can be a cooperative initiative in which municipalities and cities can help due to the fragmentation of parcels – he believes.

In Croatia, the introduction of test areas is now being considered to see the effects of agrosolar technology. Croatia has 44,000 hectares of land favorable for agrosolari, according to estimates from the gathered analysts.

– It is important to produce electricity sustainably – said Marko Jelić, the Šibenik-Knin County Prefect. He added that the city of Šibenik is one of the largest consumers of electricity in Croatia.

The installation of agrosolari could likely be financed from EU funds and through state incentives as they are part of the ‘Green Plan’.

With it, the European Commission, the executive body of the EU, aims to halt harmful gas emissions by 2050, including those from electricity production for agriculture.