Germany Could Add Over 500 GW of Agrivoltaic Capacity, Says Fraunhofer ISE

Germany has the potential to install at least 500 GW of solar capacity through agrivoltaic systems (agriPV) on its most suitable agricultural land—more than twice the country’s total solar capacity target for 2030.

This insight comes from a new study released by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE), which analyzed the agriPV potential across German federal states using three scenarios: technical potential (maximum possible), Scenario 1 (excluding protected areas such as nature reserves), and Scenario 2 (further excluding areas under lighter restrictions like flora and fauna conservation zones).

Under the technical potential scenario, Bavaria and Bremen/Lower Saxony were found to have the highest agriPV potential, with approximately 3.5 million hectares and just under three million hectares of land suitable for development, respectively. Even under the stricter Scenario 2, they remain the only regions with over 2 million hectares of viable land for agriPV deployment.

If all agriPV potential identified under Scenario 1 were utilized, Germany could theoretically add 7,900 GW of solar power through agriPV alone. Even Scenario 2, which applies the most conservative restrictions, would still deliver 5,600 GW—massively expanding the country’s renewable energy capabilities.

“These studies provide a solid data basis for political decision-makers and interest groups to promote the expansion of renewable energies and contribute to achieving climate goals,” said Anna Heimsath, Head of Modules and Power Plants Analysis at Fraunhofer ISE.

The report arrives as Germany’s installed solar capacity recently reached 107.5 GW, according to the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur)—just half of the government’s 215 GW solar target for 2030. These findings underscore how tapping even a portion of agriPV-suitable land could radically accelerate Germany’s solar expansion.

Grid Limitations Pose a Key Challenge

Despite the vast land potential, the study highlights significant challenges related to grid infrastructure.

“This is the first study in Germany to consider all types of agricultural land—permanent grasslands, arable land, and permanent crops such as vineyards or berries—for agriPV suitability,” noted Salome Hauger, lead author of the study. “A key takeaway is the importance of grid expansion, as insufficient connection points are a limiting factor for many locations.”

These concerns echo earlier comments from renewable energy stakeholders. In 2024, José Andrés Visquert, Global Head of Grid at BayWa r.e., told PV Tech Premium that “we need more grid” to unlock the full potential of renewables in Europe.

Government support has also appeared to slow. In Germany’s latest innovation tender, held last week, awarded solar capacity dropped by nearly 100 MW compared to the October 2024 round—despite over 2 GW in bids being submitted. This highlights sustained interest from developers, even amid policy uncertainties.

Fraunhofer ISE’s findings offer a powerful case for integrating agriPV into Germany’s long-term climate strategy. While full-scale adoption remains uncertain, the study makes clear that the opportunity to transform agricultural land into solar power hubs is immense—provided the right infrastructure and policies are in place.