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Nestlé builds agri-photovoltaic system at Biessenhofen plant site
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Saturday, 10 May, 2025, 16 : 00 PM [IST]
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Biessenhofen, Germany
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Nestlé Germany wants to set an important example in terms of sustainability and renewable energy with the construction of an agri-photovoltaic (Agri-PV) plant at the plant site in Biessenhofen (Bavaria). It combines the generation of solar power for its own production with a pasture and shade for animals. After setting up the construction site, the first posts for the substructure for attaching the solar modules to the ground were installed in mid-March. Completion and commissioning are planned for the second half of 2025.
The plant is being built on a 4.74-hectare site in the immediate vicinity of the Nestlé Nutrition plant and is to be connected directly to the production site. With an installed peak output of 4.5 megawatts, the PV system is expected to cover around a quarter of the plant's electricity consumption, which is roughly equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of 2,000 single-family households.
Nestlé is investing around €3 million in the project, which is being implemented by the renewable energy company BayWa r.e. with its proven expertise in the field of agri-PV.
A special feature of the facility is that the area is also intended for the keeping of cows and calves as well as hay production. Thus, the system will comply with the new DIN SPEC 91434. This certification establishes the criteria and requirements for the main agricultural use in the field of agri-photovoltaics. In collaboration with farmer Gerhard Metz, it has developed a hybrid concept for the so-called ‘cow PV system’, that enables an efficient combination of agricultural use and power generation. The company is investing in the construction of the Agri-PV system and the farmer in the construction of new barn buildings on the site.
The plan is to build a state-of-the-art cowshed with automated milking technology directly next to the PV system in order to offer a total of up to 65 cows and young animals both protection and free range.
In the southern part of the Cow PV area, elevated solar panels at a height of 2 meters are planned, which provide shade for the adult and heat-sensitive cows when the sun is shining and serve as shelter during heavy rainfall. On the northern side, the height of the panels is 1.80 meters. This area of the solar park is intended for a "cow kindergarten", where the calves and young cows can be accommodated near the mothers. This also underlines Nestlé's commitment to animal welfare.
A total of 7,800 solar modules will be installed on the site. The distance between the rows is 3.30 meters. Annual hay production with tractor, mower and baler is still possible in both sections thanks to the distance. The agri-PV system will continue to preserve the use of the agricultural land almost completely.
Jörg Schmitt, environment & sustainability manager for Nestlé's German production sites, said, "The type of planned hybrid land use for the Cow PV plant shows that we can reconcile the needs of companies, animals and the environment. Close coordination with the farmer, the relevant authorities and local stakeholders is particularly important to us in order to ensure the successful and sustainable implementation of this lighthouse project."
Stephan Schindele, head of product management Agri-PV at BayWa, said, "We are proud to be able to realise this groundbreaking Agri-PV project together with Nestlé Germany. By leveraging synergies between the energy transition and the agricultural transition, we are creating increased climate resilience and contributing to the ecological transformation of rural areas. This project impressively shows how sustainable energy and agricultural solutions can go hand in hand."
Metz said, "The well-being of my animals is particularly important to me. Cows need sufficient shade on the increasingly hot days, which they can get from the PV system. This not only improves their quality of life, but also has a positive effect on their health and milk yield. I am pleased that Nestlé is promoting the combination of agriculture and renewable energy."
Maria Rita Zinnecker, district administrator of the Ostallgäu district, said, "The planned Cow PV system is an exemplary example of how innovative solutions can contribute to sustainable energy generation and the promotion of regional agriculture. These types of projects both support our local climate goals and at the same time strengthen the local economy by integrating farmers into the energy transition. We welcome such progressive partnerships for the development of our region."
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