The decree on agrivoltaism is (finally) published

A little over a year after the vote on the law to accelerate renewable energies, agrivoltaism finally has its implementing decree, published this Tuesday in the Official Journal. The text was eagerly awaited. The government has announced its publication many times in vain, but this time, it is here!

The decree specifies the principle of non-competition between agricultural activities and energy production established by law. “Let's be clear: it is not a question of replacing agricultural production with solar energy production, but rather of complementing agricultural production with solar energy production. », Specifies Bruno Le Maire, Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty.

Thus, priority is given to agricultural production over energy production. A limit of 40% land coverage rate by agrivoltaic installations is set. In practice, control plots, that is to say having the same characteristics as those on which solar installations are installed, will make it possible to compare yields.

Likewise, a limit of 40% of soil coverage rate by agrivoltaic installations is set, to limit the risks of a drop in yields. In practice, the maintenance of agricultural production will be controlled and measured by different means by the Departmental Territorial Directorates (DDT), including comparison with yields observed on control plots.

The decree specifies in this regard that agricultural yield must be maintained for the entire agrivoltaic installation. In the case of crops for example, production must be at least equal to 90% of that observed in a control plot. This criterion will be subject to specific checks.

“Local stakeholders gathered within the Departmental Commission for the Preservation of Natural and Forest Areas (CDPENAF) will be mobilized to analyze the projects and select the best for agriculture, through an assent to be followed by the services of the State and necessary for any agrivoltaic project,” specifies the government. In the case of crops for example, production must be at least equal to 90% of that observed in a control plot.

Ground-based photovoltaics – without agricultural activity underneath – will only be possible in spaces clearly defined by the chambers of agriculture, through “framework documents”. Uncultivated land, land not exploited for 10 years or more, as well as plots deemed suitable for hosting such projects (industrial wastelands, old quarries, bodies of water, etc.) are concerned. This is to prevent recently cultivated land from being transformed into a photovoltaic field on the ground.

The only downside: with such constraints, nothing says that the acceleration of renewable energies sought by the law will be achieved.