Agrivoltaics – why one technology has so many names

A short description of agriculture PV definition and meanings.

Agrivoltaics – why one technology has so many names

An agrivoltaic (Agri‑PV) system combines two functions on the same plot: electricity generation from photovoltaic (PV) modules and continued agricultural production (crops, livestock or biodiversity measures). The concept delivers the full AgroPV triangle: energy, water and production. Through dual use of land, it unlocks ecological, social and economic value.

Methodology of the nomenclature survey

We analyse naming patterns along four complementary axes:

Research and industry environments – labels created in academic projects, trade associations or EPC firms.
National languages – grammatical and stylistic adaptations that shape local variants.
Regulations and procedures – wording adopted in laws, subsidies and permitting guidelines.
Construction technologies – terms linked to the physical layout of PV modules above, beside or within crops.

Each axis answers a different “why” behind the name and helps select the most appropriate variant for a given audience.

Research and industry environments

Terminology emerged in parallel at several R&D hubs. Prestige, funding calls and communication goals locked specific variants into everyday use.

Academic Institutions

Fraunhofer ISE (Germany) – Agri-Photovoltaik, acronym APV. The German term “Photovoltaik” was retained to emphasize the connection with the domestic PV industry, while the prefix “Agri” highlights agricultural parity.
INRAE (France) – agrivoltaïsme. The French suffix “‑isme” conveys the meaning of an economic model rather than just a technology.
NREL (USA) – agrivoltaics and dual-use solar. The term “dual-use” aligns with the vocabulary of federal documents, where the focus is on land function.
University of Arizona (USA) – co-location of solar and agriculture. A descriptive phrase that emphasizes the coexistence of both activities.
SGGW / IUNG-PIB (Poland) – agrofotowoltaika. The full combination of both fields (“agro” + “photovoltaics”) is retained in Polish, making it easier for farmers to understand.

Industry Associations

SolarPower Europe Agri-PV Task Force – Agri-PV. An international acronym that is easy to pronounce across all member languages.
AgriSolar Clearinghouse (USA) – agrisolar. The word blend results in a concise term suitable for a web domain.
Polish Photovoltaic Association and the Association for Agrophotovoltaics – Agro-PV. The abbreviation fits better into marketing materials than the full name.

EPC Companies and Developers

BayWa r.e., Enel Green Power, Lightsource BP – Agri-PV. A short term that integrates easily with product line names.
Trina Solar, JinkoSolar – Agri-PV with the addition of “water-saving,” reflecting the importance of water efficiency in Asian markets.
R.Power, Energia Pomorze (Poland) – Agro-PV or agrofotowoltaika. The localized form increases recognition among farmers.

Summary

The choice of name depends on language, target audience, and communication goals. A concise acronym works well in international marketing, while the full term is more accessible in local markets. As a result, several parallel naming variants have emerged.

Hub / Organisation	Preferred term	Rationale
Fraunhofer ISE (DE)	Agri‑Photovoltaik (APV)	Mirrors German scientific vocabulary; the APV‑Resola project popularised the APV acronym.
INRAE (FR)	agrivoltaïsme	Emphasizes agronomic origin and systemic resource sharing.
NREL & US DOE (US)	agrivoltaics, dual‑use solar	Focus on land‑sharing policy, easy outreach wording.
University of Arizona (US)	AgriSolar	Early field trials sought a catchy media label.
Energia Pomorze + ZUT + NCBR (PL)	Traction PV (AgroPV trakcyjne)	Static linear rows of poles, rafters and inward‑sloped modules; captures rainwater – a full triangle prototype.
SGGW, IUNG‑PIB (PL)	agrofotowoltaika	Direct Polish coinage; stresses integration with agronomy research.
Industry alliances (AgriPV Coalition, Agrisolar Clearinghouse)	AgriPV, agrisolar	Short, hashtag‑ready and language‑neutral for lobbying and media.

Observation – a hub’s first large pilot often dictates the label that later legislation and investors adopt

National languages Variation

The term adapts to the grammar rules and semantic preferences of each language:

Syntax – Romance languages prefer the root “‑voltaic‑”, while Polish uses the full form “fotowoltaika”.
Style – English favors concise expressions like AgriPV; French applies the suffix “‑isme” to emphasize an economic model.
Readability – In Poland, descriptive forms dominate, as they are easier for farmers to understand.
Positioning – Abbreviations (Agri‑PV, AgroPV) and blended forms like agrisolar work well in hashtags and domains.
Acronyms – Terms like APV (Agri/Agro‑PV) and AVS (Agrivoltaic System) combine precision with language neutrality and are widely used in project documentation.

Unification Recommendation

For international communication, we recommend using the acronym Agri‑PV – it is linguistically neutral, easy to pronounce, and recognized in technical publications.
In national/local materials, it’s best to retain native variants as supporting terms:
agrofotowoltaika (PL), AgroPV (ES), AgriPV (IT, FR) – improving clarity for local audiences.
For SEO, combine Agri‑PV, the hashtag #agrisolar, and the acronym APV.
This increases search visibility without diluting the brand.

National Language Variants

Language	Base Term	Examples / Variants
Polish	agrofotowoltaika	Agro‑PV, Agri‑PV, rolno‑fotowoltaika
English	agrivoltaics	Agri‑voltaics, agro‑photovoltaics, AgriPV, AgroPV, PV‑agriculture, agrisolar, dual‑use solar
German	Agri‑Photovoltaik	Agri‑PV, Agrar‑PV
French	agrivoltaïsme	photovoltaïque agricole, AgriPV
Spanish	agrovoltaica	agrofotovoltaica, AgroPV
Italian	agrivoltaico	AgriPV
Japanese	ソーラーシェアリング (solar sharing)	–
Industry Acronyms	–	APV (Agri/Agro‑PV), AVS (Agrivoltaic System), DUS (dual‑use solar), MU solar (multi‑use solar)

Unification Recommendation

For international communication, we recommend using the acronym Agri‑PV – it is linguistically neutral, easy to pronounce, and recognized in technical publications.
In national/local materials, it’s best to retain native variants as supporting terms:
agrofotowoltaika (PL), AgroPV (ES), AgriPV (IT, FR) – improving clarity for local audiences.
For SEO, combine Agri‑PV, the hashtag #agrisolar, and the acronym APV.
This increases search visibility without diluting the brand.

Why so many forms?

Morphology – Romance languages prefer the ‘‑voltaic’ stem; Slavic uses the full ‘photovoltaic’.
Length – English favors short brands (AgriPV), whereas Japanese highlights the sharing concept.
Positioning – Short forms (Agri‑PV, AgroPV) and compounds (agrisolar) excel in domains and hashtags. Acronyms APV and AVS supply language-neutral precision for technical files.

International baseline – Agri‑PV offers the best compromise: pronounceable worldwide and already embedded in EU directives.

Regulations and procedures

Lawmakers group projects by soil class, power rating and share of agricultural income. The legal term often reflects national policy priorities.

Poland The Renewable Energy Sources Act still lacks a dedicated definition, so most farms apply under standard PV. A 2024 draft proposes instalacja fotowoltaiczna zintegrowana z produkcją rolną; expert consultations lean toward adopting the Agri‑PV acronym to align with EU funding.

European Union The EU Solar Strategy and RED III use Agri‑PV consistently. CAP eco‑scheme rules award bonuses if crop yield remains above 70 % of open‑field baseline.

Global leaders:

Formal Terms and Agricultural Requirements by Country

Country	Formal Term	Key Agricultural Requirement
France	agrivoltaïsme (Energy Code Art. L315‑202)	Continuous yield monitoring; removable structures.
Germany	Agri‑PV (EEG 2023 §48)	Min. 66 % ground clearance; feed‑in tariffs tiered by height.
Japan	ソーラーシェアリング (MAFF guidelines)	Crop yield ≥ 80 % of reference.
USA	Varies by state; federal uses agrivoltaics	Proof of ongoing farm income; NRCS pilot grants.

Regulatory Conclusions

Naming conventions follow legal and linguistic culture: a single coined term in France, an English acronym in Germany and at the EU level, and a descriptive phrase in Japan. Poland has adopted a literal translation, but market-driven projects tend to promote the abbreviation Agro‑PV for marketing purposes.

Construction technologies

Technology-Based Classification

Technical terms refer to how solar modules are mounted concerning crops. This analysis identifies four main categories:

Overhead Systems (Overhead Agri‑PV)

Structures installed 3–6 meters above the ground, allowing machinery to pass freely and providing sufficient light for crops.

High-mounted AgroPV – classic fixed-tilt systems.
Tracker-based AgroPV – rotating systems (single-axis or dual-axis) increasing energy yield.
Traction AgroPV – the Traction PV system developed by Energia Pomorze in cooperation with ZUT and NCBR.
A row of traction poles supports rafters and purlins; panels sloped gently inward form a continuous overhead canopy.
The system is static (non-rotating), but its linear geometry resembles railway infrastructure—hence the name.
The construction fulfills the “full triangle” (energy, water, agriculture) by enabling water collection and sustaining crop yields.

Vertical Systems (Vertical / Fence Agri‑PV)

Modules are installed vertically along the north–south axis, often bifacial. The configuration functions as a fence and windbreak.

PL: AgroPV płotowe
EN: Vertical fence Agri‑PV
DE: Vertikale Agri‑PV / Zaun‑PV
FR: AgriPV vertical / clôture photovoltaïque

Integrated Systems (Greenhouse / In‑roof Agri‑PV)

Modules act as the roof of a greenhouse, tunnel, or light curtain. Light transmission is tailored to crop-specific needs.

Low-Clearance Systems (Low‑Clearance Agri‑PV)

Traditional PV farms mounted 0.8–1.5 m above ground, where the main agricultural function includes grazing, low-growing crops, or biodiversity zones (wildflower meadows, herbs).
Often labeled as grazing solar or biodiversity solar, these are misclassified as Agri‑PV because they do not increase agricultural yield.

Other Niches

Floating Agri‑PV – platforms installed on irrigation ponds and retention reservoirs.

Agri‑PV Technology Categories

Category	English Label	PL / DE / FR Labels	Core Features
Overhead	Overhead Agri‑PV	AgroPV wysokie Hochgeständerte Agri‑PV Agri‑PV surélevée	Modules 3–6 m above ground; full machine access. Includes tracker variants and Traction PV (static linear poles, rafters, inward-sloped fixed panels). Enables energy‑water‑crop “triangle” by collecting rainwater.
Vertical	Vertical Agri‑PV	AgroPV pionowe Vertikale Agri‑PV Agri‑PV vertical	East–west fences; low land shading; bifacial modules; act as wind barriers (e.g., in orchards or vineyards).
Integrated	Greenhouse Agri‑PV	AgroPV szklarniowe Gewächshaus Agri‑PV Serre photovoltaïque	Greenhouse roofs or semi-transparent modules; tailored light transmission; supports controlled growing environments.
Low-mount / Grazing	Grazing PV	AgroPV pastwiskowe Weide‑PV PV pâturages	Standard-height PV arrays (0.8–1.5 m); designed for sheep grazing, low crops, or biodiversity plots. Not overhead, yet often marketed as Agri‑PV.

Innovation Spotlight – Traction PV, Developed by Energia Pomorze in collaboration with the West Pomeranian University of Technology and NCBR, utilizes stationary traction-like rows of poles, purlins, and inward-sloped panels. It harvests runoff water for irrigation, delivers full land access and meets the energy‑water‑production triangle in a single structure.

Conclusions

The variety of agrivoltaic labels arose from separate academic, commercial and legal agendas, each crafting a name suited to its own language and goals. Amid this diversity, Agri-PV has become the most internationally recognized, regulation-ready shorthand and should anchor cross-border communication, while local variants can remain as supportive terms for domestic audiences. Installations that complete the full AgroPV triangle of energy, water and production—exemplified by Poland’s stationary Traction PV system—are still rare, yet they demonstrate the highest agronomic and environmental value the technology can achieve.

FAQ

Does agriPV require a building permit?

PL & IT: full permit; fast-track if the footing is removable. DE & FR: classed as an “agricultural structure”, exempt when eaves ≤ 3 m; otherwise standard Bauantrag / Permis de Construire.

Is land rezoning needed?

No, provided ≥ 70 % of the ground remains vegetated and modules are ≥ 2 m above soil (rule applied in PL, DE, IT, FR).

How much rain-water can be stored?

3 100 – 4 600 m³ ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in Central & Southern EU climates; equal to 30 – 45 % of peak-summer irrigation for leafy greens.

Grid connection or self consumption?

Both are allowed. Common pattern: on-farm self-consumption + surplus export. PL & IT permit “direct wire”; DE & FR prefer energy-community schemes.

Carbon footprint reduction?

Replacing grid electricity avoids roughly 0.6 – 0.9 tonnes CO₂-eq per kWp of PV capacity each year. On top of that, storing rain-water cuts diesel use for irrigation, saving an extra 0.06 – 0.12 tonnes CO₂-eq per hectare per year.

Public funding available?

CAP eco-schemes (all MS), RRF grants (IT, FR), KfW RE Loan (DE), Polish NCBR GreenEvo pilot; Horizon Europe calls from 2025.

CAPEX AgriPV versus ground-mount PV?

An agri-PV array costs about 25 – 45 % more than a ground-mount PV plant.
• ~15 – 35 % comes from the taller steel structure,
• ~5 – 8 % from the rain-water gutters and storage tanks,
• ~3 – 5 % from the drip-irrigation upgrade and EMS controls.

That premium buys a complete, integrated system: solar power plus smart water management and crop-protection shading. Higher yields, lower irrigation bills and national CAPEX bonuses (e.g. up to 40 % grant in Italy) offset much of the added upfront cost.

Which crops perform best?

Field trials and commercial pilots show that shade-tolerant or heat-sensitive crops benefit most:
• Leafy greens — spinach, lettuce, kale, chard
• Root and bulb vegetables — leek, celery, onion, carrot, beet
• Fruiting vegetables — cucumber, zucchini, tomato (trials), pepper
• Soft fruit & berries — strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, blackberry
• Vine crops — table grapes and wine grapes; canopy lowers sunburn risk
• Orchards — young apple, pear, peach and cherry trees; protection against hail and heat spikes
• Herbs & nursery seedlings — basil, coriander, tree saplings that need moderated PAR

Yield response ranges from maintaining baseline output to +5 – 20 %, depending on cultivar and local climate.

How is shade level controlled?

By choosing light-transmissive modules (35 – 65 % Tₗ) and adjusting row spacing from 3 m (dense shade) to 30 m (light shade).

Do machines still fit under the array?

Yes. The TR System is designed around standard farm machinery envelopes:
• Ground clearance: up to 4 m to the lowest beam, sufficient for tractors, sprayers and small harvesters.
• Row spacing: adjustable from 5 m to 30 m, allowing anything from compact vineyard tractors to wide-boom equipment to pass without obstruction.

Cleaning & durability of modules?

Glass–glass HJT/TOPCon modules carry 25 – 30 yr product + performance warranty; manual or automated washing 2 – 4× yr keeps yield within spec.

Compatibility with existing irrigation and farm-management systems

The TR System connects directly to standard agricultural infrastructure: mainline drip or sprinkler networks use ¾-in. or 1-in. BSP quick couplers on the frame, while the EMS communicates via Modbus-TCP or MQTT, letting it exchange data and control signals with common farm-management platforms (e.g. John Deere Operations Center, Agrirouter) and third-party SCADA or battery-storage controllers. No proprietary protocols or special adapters are required.

Agrivoltaics – why one technology has so many names