Agrivoltaics, a definition regulated by law
The definition of agrivoltaics is regulated by law. It is a” electricity production installation using the sun's radiative energy and whose modules are located on an agricultural plot, where they contribute sustainably to the installation, maintenance or development of agricultural production ”.
Agricultural activity and renewable energy production therefore work in synergy. Agricultural land must not change its use, in order to maintain France's food sovereignty. By limiting their artificialization, agrivoltaics acts in the direction of biodiversity.
Agrivoltaics must provide services to agriculture
Since 2023, the law relating to the acceleration of renewable energy production (APER) has governed agrivoltaics. Objective: to guarantee sustainable agricultural activity.
To be qualified as agrivoltaics, an installation must provide at least one of the following services:
- the improvement of agronomic potential and impact,
- adaptation to climate change,
- protection against hazards,
the improvement of animal welfare.
An installation that significantly impairs one of these services (or limited to two of these services) cannot be qualified as agrivoltaics.
>> To read: The regulatory framework for agrivoltaics to preserve French agriculture
Biodiversity must be integrated into any agrivoltaic project
Biodiversity is defined by” all living beings, the ecosystems in which they live as well as the interactions of species with each other and with their environments ”.
Maintaining it requires limiting the artificialization of soils, maintaining natural habitats and mitigating environmental impacts. Biodiversity is an indispensable and mandatory component of any agrivoltaic project.
APER law: what are the obligations to protect biodiversity in an agrivoltaic project?
Article 20 of the APER law provides for the establishment of a renewable energy and biodiversity observatory. It was created in 2024. Its mission: “in particular, carry out an inventory of the knowledge of the impacts of renewable energies on biodiversity, soils and landscapes, of the means of evaluating these impacts and of ways of improving this knowledge.”
Obligations depending on the power of the agrivoltaic installations
In addition, biodiversity must be taken into account in each agrivoltaic project. However, depending on the capacity of the installations, the obligations differ:
- For projects between 300 kWp and 1 MWc: an ecological note is sufficient.
- For projects of more than 1 MWc: an ecological inventory and a complete environmental impact study are required.
An ecological note for small agrivoltaic projects
Agrivoltaic projects between 300 kWp and 1 MWp may be subject to an ecological rating. It is not mandatory, but often requested during the preliminary study phase to ensure that the project respects ecological issues. It generally includes an inventory of species (fauna, flora, existing ecosystems). The potential impacts of the project on biodiversity, soils, water and landscapes are also listed.
The ecological note can also be integrated into more comprehensive files such as the environmental impact study, as part of a project of more than 1 MWc.
An environmental impact study for agrivoltaic projects of at least 1 MWc
Some developers, like the leader Français de l'agrivoltaisme TSE, carry out agrivoltaic projects of more than 1 MWp. They must call on an approved design office to carry out a preliminary ecological inventory, as well as an environmental impact study. It is a legal obligation governed by the Environmental Code.
In general, the design office first carries out a bibliographical search. It checks whether there are regulatory zones (e.g. Natura 2000) or inventory and management areas (e.g. Natural Areas of Ecological Interest) on the site. Ecologists carry out an inventory of species in the field, in order to complete this ecological inventory.
Next, the impact study offers an in-depth assessment of the interactions between the project and the local ecosystem. It can take several months to complete. It aims to identify the positive or negative effects of the agrivoltaics project on the environment. Thus, the developer makes informed choices about the design of the installation and can implement adapted ERC (Avoid, Reduce, Compensate) measures.
How to reduce the ecological impact of agrivoltaics?
If the design office identifies risks for the environment, it can propose a method for avoiding, reducing or compensating (ERC) the impacts. In general, the measures apply as much to the construction phase as to the operational phase of an agrivoltaic installation.
The ERC methodology establishes a hierarchy between measures to protect biodiversity:
- Avoid impacts negative aspects of the project by modifying it. E.g.: do not develop an agrivoltaics project in an area with an important ecological challenge.
- Reducing impacts that could not be avoided. Ex: do work outside sensitive periods for fauna or flora.
- Offsetting the impacts residual, by offering a quid pro quo. E.g.: plant hedges.
These measures must be followed in order to properly take into account the issues related to biodiversity. They can be supplemented by others in order to increase their chances of success.
The effects of agrivoltaics on biodiversity
Numerous studies have demonstrated the positive impacts of shade on crops and livestock. However, the sector still lacks perspective on the concrete effects of agrivoltaics on biodiversity. Thus, few references exist to date.
The installation of photovoltaic panels on agricultural plots can influence biodiversity. Air and soil temperature conditions are changed, as well as the humidity level on agricultural plots. The impact on fauna and flora depends on the configuration of the site, its location and its initial condition.
Uncultivated strips under the solar panels
The farmer can valorize the uncultivated strips between the poles of the photovoltaic structures, to promote the presence of pollinating insects and crop auxiliaries. They can be considered as SIEs (areas of ecological interest) by the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy). Although there is no obligation, agrivoltaics is also an opportunity for farmers to experiment with new practices such as agro-ecology. This sustainable approach to agriculture focuses on the interaction between plants, animals, humans and their environment.
The establishment of intercultures can also be interesting in the context of agrivoltaics. In fact, the albedo (reflective power) of plant covers is higher than that of bare soils. Bi-facial panels can take advantage of this greater reflective power. Soil conservation practices, including permanent cover, are therefore interesting, especially since they limit erosion and promote biodiversity.
Agrivoltaics actors are committed to biodiversity
Some developers are strongly committed to preserve biodiversity. This requires both the quality of preliminary ecological studies and environmental assessments. Concrete actions can be implemented, such as partnerships with recognized actors. For example, TSE, a French leader in agrivoltaics and photovoltaics, has signed an agreement with the National Museum of Natural History and is a member of the WWF France Entrepreneurship for the Planet Club. The objective is to reinforce the consideration of biodiversity in company actions and thus reduce the impact on natural environments. At the same time, scientific data is collected to advance research.
Solar trackers, an asset for biodiversity in fallow lands
Agrivoltaic structures, in particular with solar trackers, offer advantages for fallow plots. For example, the solar fallow developed by TSE, protects these plots that are more exposed to climatic hazards. Equipped with a solar tracker, it offers plots rotating and partial shade favorable to the development of vegetation. The solar fallow land has a small footprint and a spaced location. Thus, it allows flora and fauna to develop without constraints and contributes to the maintenance of biodiversity.
Research, essential for combining agrivoltaics and biodiversity
Despite the precautions taken, the installation of an agrivoltaic structure necessarily has an impact on biodiversity during the construction phase. The objective of project developers is to limit its impact as much as possible during all phases: installation, operation and dismantling. To do this, it is essential to understand how biodiversity and agrivoltaics interact.
That is why, in recent years, research projects have been initiated. They analyze the effects of solar panels on various ecosystems: bird communities, wetlands, insect groups, or even the ecological impact of fences on wildlife and ecological continuity.
These studies will provide valuable insight into the levers to be mobilized to preserve biodiversity while developing solar energies, which are now essential in the ecological transition.
At the same time, INRAE* is involved in a National Research Programme on Agrivoltaics (PNR), of which TSE is a member. It aims to design sustainable and efficient agrivoltaic systems, thus ensuring their long-term economic and agronomic viability. Biodiversity is one of the 11 themes addressed.
*INRAE: National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment.
sourcing :
https://agriculture.gouv.fr/loi-relative-lacceleration-des-energies-renouvelables-un-cadre-pour-les-installations
https://www.notre-environnement.gouv.fr/themes/evaluation/article/l-evaluation-environnementale#Dans-quels-cas-l-evaluation-environnementale-doit-elle-etre-realisee-nbsp
https://www.inrae.fr/dossiers/agriculture-forets-sources-denergie/lagrivoltaisme-voie-lavenir?
