The Czech lower house of parliament has approved an amendment facilitating the construction of agrivoltaic systems throughout the nation. This amendment permits the development of agrivoltaic projects without necessitating changes in land designation or zoning plans.
Jan Krčmář from the Czech Solar Association highlighted the significance of this change, which contrasts with previous restrictions that barred the installation of photovoltaic (PV) systems on agricultural land without a change in its designated use. The amendment also outlines that agrivoltaic systems should not occupy more than 10% of a farm's total area, and it initially restricts agrivoltaic deployment to orchards, hopyards, and vineyards, excluding vertical systems on fields for a trial period.
Unlike some European countries, Czech regulations do not impose a minimum agricultural yield for farms with agrivoltaic installations. The country witnessed the installation of 1 GW of new PV plants in 2023, bringing the total solar capacity to nearly 3.5 GW by the year's end, with over 170,000 PV plants connected to the grid.
Source: pv-magazine.com