Photovoltaics and agri-PVAgri-PV project Berlin-Schönefeld 

About the Agri-PV plant

Ideal location in the capital region

On the fields near Berlin Airport BER, electricity is generated from solar energy, while agriculture continues to be operated between the module series - the Berlin-Schönefeld Agri-PV plant combines both in one area. With a rated output of almost 50 megawatts, it is the first agri-PV project in the klimaVest portfolio and shows how area efficiency is advancing the energy transition: Agriculture and electricity generation share the same area without displacing each other.

The German solar market and agri-PV on the up

Record expansion of photovoltaics in Germany

Germany continues to experience a sustained photovoltaic boom. In 2025, solar power plants with an output of 16.5 gigawatts were newly connected to the grid - exceeding the expansion target of 15 gigawatts planned by the German Federal Government. By the end of 2025, a total of over 117 gigawatts of solar power had been installed in Germany, and the output is expected to increase to 215 gigawatts by 2030.^{1 2} Already in 2025, renewable energies covered around 56 percent of gross electricity consumption - the third year in a row, in which more than half of electricity consumption comes from renewable sources.¹ The German Federal Government’s Solar Package I, which came into force in May 2024, is driving this upturn and creating better framework conditions for technologies such as agri-PV.³ There are separate tender quotas and higher remunerations for agri-PV systems - the tender volume for special solar plants has more than doubled to 800 megawatts per year in 2025, and systems up to one megawatt receive a fixed feed-in tariff of 9.36 cents/kWh over 20 years.⁴ The legislator is thus addressing a growing conflict: Agricultural land is becoming increasingly scarce for conservation, infrastructure and energy production. Agri-PV solves this conflict by using the same area for food production and electricity generation - a true double harvest.⁵

Big potential with tangible benefits

Around 4.3 million hectares in Germany are particularly suitable for agri-PV, because certain crops and land types there harmonise well with PV modules.⁶ The Jülich Research Centre quantifies the realistic potential - i.e. land on which agri-PV makes ecological sense and stabilises yields - for one to two percent of all agricultural land. This corresponds to an output of 170 to 340 gigawatts, which can contribute to German solar expansion by 2040⁷. The benefits are clear: The modules protect plants from heat and dry stress, reduce evaporation and can stabilise yields under changing climate conditions⁸. In addition, farmers are opening up additional sources of income by leasing or operating the plants themselves. However, agri-PV projects also face challenges: The investment costs are higher than for conventional systems, there are no uniform standards and the legal framework conditions vary regionally⁸. The further development of DIN SPEC 91434 into a complete standard is intended to remedy this and provide planning security for farmers, investors and licencing authorities⁷.

Significance for funds

Strategic positioning in innovative technology 

The acquisition of the Agri-PV plant in Berlin-Schönefeld underlines klimaVest’s strategic orientation to integrate future-proof technologies in the field of renewable energies. As the only project of its kind in the portfolio, the investment shows how energy supply and agriculture can be shared. klimaVest is thus consciously positioning itself as a pioneer: The fund focuses on technologies that solve land conflicts rather than exacerbate them.

Professional transaction process

The acquisition took place in autumn 2022 at a time when more and more investors were looking for subsidy-free solar projects with reliable electricity purchase agreements. klimaVest is thus consciously positioning itself as a pioneer: The fund focuses on technologies that solve land conflicts rather than exacerbate them and connect agriculture with energy production.

Expertise of Commerz Real⁹

Commerz Real contributed its many years of experience with complex energy projects - from technical and economic testing to contract negotiations and integration into the existing portfolio. With the project, klimaVest is expanding its portfolio with another PV system and at the same time opening up a technology that is gaining considerable importance on the market: follow-up agri-PA in response to growing land conflicts.