Germany can install up to 500 GW of solar capacity on the most suitable agricultural lands, according to a new study from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE. The study shows the country’s land potential far exceeds its 2040 solar PV expansion targets.
Under its Easter Package cleared in July 2022, Germany approved a cumulative solar PV installation target of 215 GW by 2030, increasing to 400 GW by 2040 (see Germany’s Bundestag Clears Easter Package). As of May 2025, the country’s total solar PV installed capacity had reached 106.28 GW (see Germany Installed Over 1 GW Of New Solar In May 2025).
The Fraunhofer ISE study factors in all suitable types of agricultural land in the country to make its projection for Germany’s agrivoltaic or agri-PV or agrisolar potential. This includes permanent grassland, arable land, and permanent crops such as fruits, vineyards, or berries, explains Study Author Salome Hauger.
It evaluated the potential considering geographical factors as well as legal and regulatory requirements to arrive at the 500 GW potential volume projection.
The study considers 2 scenarios based on its assessment of all suitable agricultural land across Germany using the geographic information system (GIS). Under scenario 1, it considers the maximum technical potential to be 7,900 GW, leaving out land that’s protected and off-bounds by law or hard restrictions.
Under scenario 2, which factors in environmentally responsible deployment, leaving out land protected by law as well as soft restrictions such as flora and fauna conservation areas, the team assesses Germany’s installable PV capacity potential as reaching 5,600 GW. This also filtered suitable land by considering solar radiation, grid connection proximity, and synergy potential of solar systems with permanent crops such as wine or fruits. For instance, stone fruits, such as apples, can benefit from a protective covering of PV modules that replace hail protection nets, it explains.
Hauger stresses, “An important finding of the study is the role of grid expansion: The lack of grid connection points is a limiting factor for many areas.”
Moreover, the team also calculated soil suitability under scenario 2 to classify the areas into 5 suitability classes, from most to least suitable.
Another focus area of the study is the agrivoltaic potential at the local level, since the use of GIS can help calculate the potential for agri-PV down to the individual plot.
In Hamburg’s rural areas, for instance, it found up to 620 hectares of permanent crops in the Altes Land and the Vier- and Marschlande areas, and 160 hectares of greenhouse rooftops show strong suitability. Studies in Ahrweiler and Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald found agri-PV could cover 16% and 12% of their current energy consumption, respectively, helping reduce land-use conflicts in farming regions.
“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,” adds the Head of the Modules and Power Plants Analysis Department at Fraunhofer ISE, Anna Heimsath.
Fraunhofer ISE’s previous research found a fruitful correlation between solar panels and agriculture (see Fraunhofer ISE Releases Interim Results For Agrivoltaic Research).
In May 2025, it also created a new spin-off diveo focused on agrivoltaics (see Fraunhofer ISE Launches Agrivoltaic Startup Diveo GmbH).
