eCactus Energy and Agrivoltaics

The use of farmland for traditional style Solar Parks, in our opinion is not sustainable. Eventually there will be no traditional farming practises left. Dual use farms with(vertical bi-facial) or (higher mounted shading panels) is a great start, but we need to transition to a better idea, eCactus Solar Towers!

Good

Dual use Solar Park

eCactus Solar Towers

Integrated into Infrastructure.

Better

Best

Nauheim Agrivoltaic Research Farm

The goal of this project is to learn the numerous requirements to create a solar park using eCactus Towers in Germany. The endgame is to have a functioning small farm with integrated solar collection. Above is an image of the farm boundaries filled with traditional ground mounted 2m sq panels. Generic spacing to allow for Agri-photovaltaic dual-use system. Animal grazing or thin rows of vegetables or grapes possible. Note also the orientation of the the ground mounted panels are actually facing east. For comparison purposes we have shown the panels filling the long thin boundary, and not east west for best efficiency. The towers work well in all property shapes and sizes and orientations.

Using eCactus solar collection towers would allow for full range of farming and solar energy collection. The towers also integrate well regardless of the property orientation. In this example North to South is right to left in the image. (late evening shadows). The NARF Nauheim Agriphotovoltaic Farm has many obstacles including not being in the Hessen (Freiflächensolaranlagenverordnung den Bau von PV-Anlagen in benachteiligten landwirtschaftlichen Gebieten.) or in the areas with Government subsidies.
https://landesplanung.hessen.de/geodaten/freiflaechensolaranlagen

The property is also in a Landschftsschutzgebiet, which involves some protections for the biosphere.

With so many challenges including public opinion, and all the regulating authorities, we can only hope with time and effort this project eventually comes to life. Keep posted!