The utility-scale solar photovoltaics sector is constantly changing as experts find new ways to optimize limited environmental resources. Agrivoltaics is a fascinating innovation for land-scarce regions that combines farming and crop cultivation with solar energy production.
During the Agrivoltaics World Conference 2025, in Freiburg, Germany, we sat down with Matthew Berwind, Scientist at Fraunhofer ISE, to discuss the benefits, intricacies, and challenges of Agrivoltaic sites.
Tune in to our new OTT CAST episode where Berwind walks us through:
- Instances where Agrivoltaic systems can diverge from traditional utility-scale solar PV systems
- How Agrivoltaics can help alleviate grid issues across the planet
- A global outlook on where the practice is growing and where it is being hindered
Where is Agrivoltaics Headed Next?
Whether it’s new regulatory frameworks or novel-system adoptions (such as PV-tracker technology), Agrivoltaics presents an innovation potential that can also benefit traditional utility-scale systems. Whether it’s sheep between module rows or valuable fruit crop protected by overhead installations, the mutual benefits from this practice are enormous.
Listen now to gain a scientific insight on the current state of Agrivoltaics and how this practice will continue to grow.
In case the embedded player does not appear, listen to the episode on Buzzsprout via this link.
Our appreciation and thanks go out to our guest:
Mathew Berwind is a team leader focused on PV system simulation in large-scale solar power plants at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Germany. Berwind holds a PhD in microsystems engineering. His research focuses on yield simulation, particularly concerning novel and emerging PV technologies, including agrivoltaics.
