ADVERTORIAL
Insolight, a Swiss company leading in the agrivoltaics sector, has organized a series of conferences in Italy in February 2025 to present its innovative solutions. The goal is to illustrate the agronomic and economic benefits of agrivoltaic installations, the business model, and the design of the systems.
What is Agrivoltaics?
Agrivoltaics is a new frontier for renewable energy that combines solar energy production with agricultural activities on the same land. This approach offers multiple advantages:
- Clean energy production: Agrivoltaic systems generate renewable energy, contributing to the energy transition and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
- Crop protection: Agrivoltaic structures can protect crops from adverse weather events such as rain, hail, and frost, as well as reduce summer temperatures and water consumption.
- Additional income for farmers: Farmers can receive a financial contribution or land lease from Insolight for the installation of the systems, providing a significant additional source of income.
- Resource optimization: Agrivoltaics can reduce the use of plastic in greenhouses and optimize water usage.
Insolight’s Solutions
Insolight offers comprehensive agrivoltaic solutions adaptable to different crops. Their systems are designed to provide the necessary light to plants while ensuring optimal solar energy production. The company also provides agronomic consulting services to support farmers in managing crops under the installations.
Insolight has developed a dynamic agrivoltaic solution called insolagrin, which protects plants and creates optimal growing conditions while generating solar energy. This solution is particularly suitable for crops that require protective structures such as plastic tunnels or greenhouses.
Insolight’s Business Model
Insolight offers agricultural businesses the opportunity to install an agrivoltaic system on their land at Insolight’s expense. The company sells the generated energy and, in return, provides farmers with free rain and hail protection as well as a financial contribution for land use.
Additionally, Insolight has developed partnerships with major companies, such as Migros supermarkets in Switzerland, to promote agricultural products grown under agrivoltaic systems with a specific label ("Fruits à énergie positive").
Insolight’s Conferences in Italy
During the conferences, Insolight presents the technical details for implementing agrivoltaic systems in Italy, with a particular focus on berry crops. The company is in the authorization phase for building a 2-hectare facility in Forlì, at the Ciani Daniele farm, for the cultivation of blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries.
The conferences feature industry experts, including representatives from sponsors such as Campagnola, Netafim, and Sfera. Topics related to agrivoltaics regulations are addressed, with in-depth discussions on current laws, decrees, and incentives.
Agronomic Results
Insolight, Romande Energie, and Agroscope have shared the initial results of a pilot agrivoltaic project in Conthey (VS), Switzerland. The results demonstrated that the insolagrin solution can maintain yield and quality in agricultural production while generating renewable energy. Specifically, no significant differences were found in yield, sugar content, and fruit weight between crops grown under the agrivoltaic system and those in plastic greenhouses.
The main goal of the Conthey pilot project is to prove that the dynamic shading provided by THEIA panels can improve yield and quality of berries during summer heatwaves while simultaneously generating electricity.
In conclusion, the conferences organized by Insolight represent an important opportunity to deepen the understanding of agrivoltaics and its potential for more sustainable and profitable agriculture.
Road Show Italy 2025
- February 24 | Saluzzo – Hotel Griselda, Corso XXVII Aprile 13, Saluzzo (CN)
- February 25 | Pavia – Hotel Le Gronde, Via Togliatti 102, Cava Manara (PV)
- February 26 | Forlì – Grand Hotel, Via del Partigiano 12 bis, Forlì (FC)
- February 27 | Abano Terme – Hotel Zodiaco, Via Valerio Flacco 98, Abano Terme (PD)
Click here for the event schedule.
For registration (subject to availability), please send an email to sergio.panini.agro@gmail.com (cell. 366-6314643).
