International projects

Agrivoltaic systems that combine photovoltaic panels and agriculture, made by the German company SUNfarming, produce energy, provide shelter and space for plants and animals and ensure more efficient use of rainwater.

Link to video, SUNfarming Agrivoltaic systems

The "Food & Energy" facility, which is also used as a research and training centre for modern agriculture and solar energy technology, was ceremonially commissioned on 26 August 2023.

Link to article, Opening SUNfarming Food & Energy Mauritius (German)

The GIZ team of the Project Development Programme (PEP) was received by Peter Schrum, founder and shareholder of SUNfarming, as well as David Morr, Head of the Research and Development Department and other SUNfarming staff.
The GIZ team works on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK) within the framework of the Energy Export Initiative with the aim of disseminating climate-friendly energy solutions and supporting market access for German and European small and medium-sized enterprises in selected cooperation countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Asia. This also strengthens economic development in the partner countries and contributes to international climate protection. In addition to classic rooftop PV systems, there is growing interest in these countries for the dual use of agriculture and energy transition through agri-PV systems.

The visitors were given a detailed insight into the developments and technologies in the field of Agri-PV. From the efficient use of solar energy to the integration into agricultural operations - the experts from SUNfarming showed how sustainable energy generation and agriculture go hand in hand.

From the efficient use of solar energy to integration into agricultural operations - the experts from SUNfarming showed how sustainable energy production and agriculture can go hand in hand.
During a joint tour, Michael Bleiker, farm manager in Rathenow, gave the visitors an insight into the research facilities. This was followed by an in-depth presentation and discussion of the SUNfarming concept and the services of the Export Initiative Energy project development programme.

SABC News, video report on the project: Food Security, over 40 schools benefit from the SUNfarming Vitality Booster Project

Labour is needed for production in the food industry. Accredited Agri-SETA trainers in organic vegetable production, provided by SUNfarming South Africa, take over the training of these workers. In this way, additional new jobs are created locally. Our trainees are much better equipped to find work in agriculture after completing our trainings.
300 unemployed people are trained in the training programme. For the top 60, the project offers further training on the farm property provided by SUNfarming in Potchefstroom. As licensed SUNfarming franchisers, a large number of them will help to supply supermarkets with organic vegetables and herbs.

As an emergency aid, Vitality Porridge is distributed to school children as a daily vitamin- and nutrient-rich supplement to their school lunch during the project period. In addition, the children receive a 5 kg bag to take home to their families. As there are often not enough plates in the schools, Vitality Porridge can also be distributed and drunk more diluted as a milkshake. The children love it all the more this way, because it tastes like a vanilla shake, they say.
The course participants can also take home a 5kg bag of Vitality Porridge. The school programmes supported by KfW/DEG aim to tackle malnutrition, one of the biggest development problems in African countries, at its root. Children are empowered directly at school and teachers are trained to pass on the knowledge they have gained about the essential importance of healthy food to the children. Through training and education directly in the production facilities and in cooperation with the church communities, jobs and sustainable future prospects are also created for the people in Africa.

"We would like to expressly thank all project partners without whose support we would not have been able to realise the emergency food aid and training programmes in the Vitality Porridge Project," Peter Schrum continues.

SUNfarming Vitality Porridge Project in South Africa is a PPP project and is funded by KfW/DEG. The project is supported in its organisation by develoPPP, Skills for All, german cooperation, F.E.E.D. (Food-Energy-Education-Development e.V.).

You can find all information at www.feed-ev.de or contact our Edith Brasche, Vice-President FEED e.V..

SUNfarming Africa’s project has been implemented as part of the National Scheme for Emerging/Innovative Renewable Energy Technologies by the Mauritius Renewable Energy Authority. This project will contribute to the green energy transition as well as improve local food and job security in the region, and eventually the whole country.

In his address, Minister Lesjongard rejoiced that the SUNfarming Food & Energy Agrisolar Training Centre marks a pivotal moment in Mauritius’ journey towards sustainability and a brighter future for the country. He recalled that since several years, Government’s vision has been to transform Mauritius into a high income, inclusive and green country. ‘Our nation has long been a pioneer in recognising the delicate balance between economic progress and ecological preservation and the introduction of the agri-solar farm is a leap forward in this direction’, he said.
He further highlighted that the commitment of Government to both the agricultural and the energy sectors has been translated in its successive budgets. In the last budget speech 2023/2024, Government has reiterated this commitment and provided Rs 2 billion to support existing and new developments in the agricultural sector, he added.

He also remarked that Mauritius is among the very few countries in the world that has proactively introduced such a renewable energy scheme. He shared that the objective is to maximise the use of renewable energy technology, including innovative and emerging technologies, in the journey towards a more sustainable and greener Mauritius.

Minister Lesjongard underlined that the concept of agri PV is an innovative approach that has the potential to transform the socioeconomic and environmental landscape of the country. Government, he added, endeavours to create a synergy where agricultural productivity and renewable energy generation harmoniously coexist. By utilising solar panels alongside agricultural fields, we are optimising our land usage, producing clean energy, and cultivating our soil sustainably, he stated.

For his part, Minister Ramano observed that the solution to climate challenges will be defined by our capability to innovate and rethink the way we use our resources. He thus opined that agri-voltaic is an innovative way to address this issue as it makes simultaneous use of land for solar energy production and agriculture practices. Agri-voltaic could be a solution to both decarbonise the electricity mix and enhance food security, he said.

The SUNfarming project:

This agrivoltaic project combines high quality photovoltaic electricity generation and food production facilities (bio-horticulture and vegetable production by drip irrigation).
SUNfarming has designed special Food & Energy systems, made in Germany, that enable the cultivation of plants underneath solar panels, which will be installed at Gros Cailloux.
This unique plant will be used as a research and training platform in collaboration with local partners in the field of modern agriculture and solar renewable energy.
The plant has been injecting energy into the CEB medium voltage network since July 2023.
The SUNfarming Group is based in Germany and has installed more than 600 MWp of solar projects worldwide over 1,000 hectares. SUNfarming Africa, the subsidiary of the SUNfarming Group in Mauritius, is aiming to develop unique solar projects in the Indian Ocean, notably in Mauritius and Madagascar.

Peter Schrum SUNfarming Founder and Main Shareholder:
“The country has very limited land and needs to invest in such technologies to double the use of the land. This project will contribute to the green energy transition as well as improve local food and job security in the region, and eventually the whole island. The 200 kWp pilot plant showcases the real benefits of Food & Energy as an innovative technology. Our goal is then to invest in large scale Food & Energy projects across the island.”

“As a tropical island where the sun never stops shining, we can and should show our capacity to harness that energy. We firmly believe that combining solar energy generation with sustainable agriculture is an optimum solution for us. Conventional solar projects are quite restricted in their contribution to society, so combining agriculture with solar panels allows for local communities to benefit more from such projects and adds to self-subsistence. We are working to scale up our pilot plant here, in Gros Cailloux and also to other places in Mauritius”, explains Chetan Jankee, SUNfarming Project Manager International Projects.

This project is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action as part of the Renewable Energy Solutions Programme of the German Energy Solutions Initiative.

German Energy Agency (dena)
The German Energy Agency (dena) is a centre of excellence for the applied energy transition and climate protection. dena studies the challenges of building a climate-neutral society and supports the German government in achieving its energy and climate policy objectives. Since its founding in 2000, dena has worked to develop and implement solutions and bring together national and international partners from politics, industry, the scientific community and all parts of society. dena is a project enterprise and a public company owned by the German federal government. dena’s shareholders are the Federal Republic of Germany and the KfW Group. www.dena.de/en

German Energy Solutions Initiative
With the aim of positioning German technologies and know-how worldwide, the German Energy Solutions Initiative of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) supports suppliers of climate-friendly energy solutions in opening up foreign markets. The focus lies on renewable energies, energy efficiency, smart grids and storage, as well as technologies such as power-to-gas and fuel cells. Aimed in particular at small and medium-sized enterprises, the German Energy Solutions Initiative supports participants through measures to prepare market entry as well as to prospect, develop and secure new markets. www.german-energy-solutions.de/en

Renewable Energy Solutions Programme (RES Programme)
With the RES programme, the Energy Export Initiative of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) helps German companies in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors enter new markets. Within the framework of the programme, reference plants are installed and marketed with the support of the German Energy Agency (dena). Information and training activities help ensure a sustainable market entry and demonstrate the quality of climate-friendly technologies made in Germany.

Poland:
With a construction time of only 3 months from the first spade table to completion, 20 MW solar plant in Poland was successfully completed DC-side in June. In total, the plants save about 7,400 tonnes of CO2.

"We are pleased to contribute to the clean energy supply with 20 more megawatt PV plants in Poland. The professional and intensive cooperation of all parties involved has made this possible," explains Martin Tauschke, Managing Director of SUNfarming GmbH as well as SUNfarming Polska sp.z.o.o..

Photovoltaics is becoming more and more important among the renewable energy sources in Poland, as it is the cheapest energy that can be generated with existing technologies. In addition, the use of fallow land and land with low soil quality conserves agricultural arable land.
Kosciercyna is an urban municipality in the Woidwodschaft Pomerania in Poland and the independent rural municipality of Kosciercyna with 24,000 inhabitants.

Brandenburg:
SUNfarming has also built another 13.5 MW in Germany.The PV plant generates green electricity that will supply regional businesses. In total, the plant saves about 5,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

"We are pleased that, together with our long-standing partners, we can continue to make our contribution to renewable energy supply in Germany and the expansion of biodiversity with classic EEG plants in addition to our main focus of agri-solar plants in Germany," explains Thies Schrum, member of the management board of SUNfarming.