Turnkey
Agri-PV (EWS Sonnenfeld)
+1
Ground-mounted photovoltaics

Agri-PV best with the EWS Sonnenfeld

We supply ALL TYPES of agri-PV systems. We have perfected solar power for maximum electricity revenue and agriculture on a single field with our EWS Sonnenfeld®.
2025_image_solar_sonnenfeld_02.jpg

From 5 ha minimum area

At least 1,500 households supplied

plus 160 % space efficiency

The next generation of turnkey agrivoltaic systems

The EWS Sonnenfeld® is a proven, innovative agri-photovoltaic system that smartly combines electricity generation with agricultural use.

With no competition for land, it creates a forward-looking model of sustainable land use that is environmentally sound, safe, economically viable and broadly accepted.

By combining electricity generation, food production and biodiversity measures, the overall yield of a site can be increased by up to 160%. The annual solar power production of a 5-hectare Sonnenfeld can cover the household electricity needs of around 1,500 households.

All relevant site conditions are considered in both planning and operation – from soil quality, sunshine hours and wind conditions to local farming practices and crop-specific needs.

Our EWS Sonnenfeld® stands for innovative dual use and opens up long-term opportunities for operators, farmers, local authorities and project partners.

Land checkContact

Land use with maximum yield. Only 2% loss of acreage.

Agri-PV with EWS does not compete with agriculture or food production; it forms a genuine partnership. The land remains actively farmed while generating additional income from electricity.

80 %
Agriculture
18 %
Biodiversity strips
2 %
System components

A well-designed concept for people, technology and nature.

Tracking solar panels (module tables), multiple operating modes and perfectly matched bifacial glass-glass modules ensure maximum electricity generation and crop yields.

Ernte am EWS Sonnenfeld Pischelsdorf am Engelbach

Features

Features

Large-scale efficiency gains

The larger the system, the lower the specific investment cost per installed kilowatt hour. Our proven procurement processes allow us to cut the production costs of your photovoltaic system and ensure the highest possible long-term returns.

Sun catchers – solar panels that track the sun for up to 20% higher yield

The combination of sun-tracking panels and bifacial glass-glass modules, which generate electricity on both sides, ensures continuous power production throughout the day. This delivers up to 20% more electricity than fixed systems, particularly in the morning and evening hours.

Cultivation widths tailored to your region

Our EWS Sonnenfeld® offers maximum flexibility in designing cultivation widths. Depending on operational needs, they are designed to allow agricultural use with minimal restrictions.

Flexible control modes

Targeted control of the module tables via a control panel allows optimal adjustment to farming operations: for example, the modules can be tilted up to 70 degrees or moved into a fully horizontal position to accommodate large harvesting machines. This minimises the risk of stone chips or mechanical damage, helping to lower operating costs over the long term. The “precipitation mode” ensures even water distribution across the cultivated areas and keeps the modules largely free of snow.

 

System components tried and tested over many years

The system components have been proven over many years, are precisely matched to the EWS Sonnenfeld® and are industrially manufactured to ensure a high level of standardisation and scalability. Their ready availability allows faster project completion and significantly lowers both investment and operating costs. This enhances the long-term profitability of agri-photovoltaic systems.

Low maintenance and operating costs

Compared with fixed module tables, the sun catcher design offers a significant cost advantage.Mechanical cultivation between and under the swivelling module tables reduces maintenance requirements, while a manually activated cleaning mode with a module table inclination of up to 70° supports natural cleaning during precipitation and saves additional cleaning costs. These solutions, developed by the EWS team, reduce maintenance and operating costs sustainably over the entire service life of the system and are continuously optimised.

Erfahrung macht den Unterschied: Bauarbeiten im komplexen Gelände erfordern Know-how
2025_image_solar_tracker.jpg
2025_image_solar_ernte.jpg
2025_image_solar_sonnenfeld_ernte_01.jpg
2025_image_solar_tracker.jpg
2025_image_solar_sonnenfeld_ernte.jpg

Power from the farm

Adjustable module tables and long cultivation rows make it possible to farm between the module rows.
Farming
The "harvesting mode" maximises the clearance for large agricultural machines such as combine harvesters. The "tunnel effect" keeps the dust on the surface as much as possible and not on the modules.
Learn more
Farming

How crop yields develop very much depends on the location as well as on soil and local weather conditions. Initial studies on microclimate show that, under extreme weather conditions, sun tracking and controllable PV modules have a clear insulating effect, protecting crops from both heat and cold. Some crops perform better in particularly hot years thanks to partial shading. At low temperatures, where even a degree or two can make a difference, the panels can help protect the plants. Routine mechanical cultivation at the Sonnenfeld runs smoothly and efficiently.

Grassland
The "cultivation mode" positions the module tables horizontally - for mowing and fertilising with a low risk of falling rocks and for maximum crop yields.
Learn more
Grassland

Fresh grass, clover and hay from the Sonnenfeld thrive beautifully between the PV panels. The row spacing of the module is adapted to the agricultural vehicle fleet. Farmers can set the module tables to a horizontal position and start work immediately. Electricity is harvested automatically and almost incidentally!

Biodiversity strips
Flower strips can be planted on the areas under the rows of modules to increase biodiversity. Every square metre of the solar field is thus used sensibly and efficiently.
Learn more
Biodiversity strips

Flower strips or bee pastures are arranged underneath the module rows and around the module anchorages. This creates added ecological value by increasing biodiversity, as these areas provide habitats for insects and other beneficial animals, which in turn helps with pollination and reduces pest infestations.

All advantages at a glance

High public acceptance

A design in harmony with the environment, rich biodiversity and active community involvement all help foster support.

Dual land use

Energy generation and farming at the same time – without competing with food production.

Tailored planning

Optimised for regional conditions, soil type and your agricultural machinery requirements.

Crisis-proof even in years of climate-related crop loss

Additional, predictable income from electricity sales keeps the farm economically stable even when harvests fluctuate.

Balanced soil moisture and wind protection

Partial shade and reduced wind speed minimise evaporation, making soils more resilient.

Frequently asked questions

Is the solar field a ground-mounted PV system?

No, the EWS Sonnenfeld® is not an open-space PV system but an agrivoltaic system for good grassland and arable land for food and electricity production with an additional increase in biodiversity.

When should an agrivoltaic system and when should a ground-mounted PV system be installed?

Basically, agri-PV plants (dual use) are built on good soils and PV ground-mounted systems on poor soils. Agri-PV systems are also occasionally installed on poor soils. In addition to generating electricity, sheep are often used for grazing on these areas.

Does an EWS Sonnenfeld® compete with food production?

No, the dual use of the land means that agricultural land is utilised efficiently. Electricity generation does not compete with food production and flora and fauna are not neglected either. 

Does EWS also offer ground-mounted PV systems?

Yes, the location is crucial for the right choice of your photovoltaic system. That's why you should request our site check. In a joint discussion, we will find the optimum design variant for you and your location.

Are turnkey EWS Sonnenfelder® also available?

Yes, they do exist. Turnkey EWS Sonnenfelder® are supplied by EWS EPC GmbH as general contractor, including grid connection. EPC stands for "Engineering, Procurement, Construction". The managing director of EWS EPC GmbH is e.steiner [at] ews-epc.at (Eng. Ernst Steiner, MBA).

How do you define an agrivoltaic system (agri-PV)?

Agri-PV systems are agriculturally utilised areas on which solar energy is used to generate electricity and agricultural products are produced at the same time (dual use in the field). At least 75% of the total area must be used for agricultural purposes with local crops. A maximum of 5% of the occupied area may be used for infrastructure, such as: Mounting system, transformer sites, inverters, gravelled areas for logistics. The remaining area must be used as a flowering or berry area (bee pasture) or as fallow land to increase biodiversity 

Which surfaces are suitable for the EWS Sonnenfeld®?

In principle, all grassland and arable land for agricultural use from a size of at least 5 ha is suitable for an EWS Sonnenfeld®. When planning the EWS Sonnenfeld®, the geometry, topography, shading, grid connection options and the orientation of the plot are taken into account. Request your plot check right here

.
Is there a property check?

Yes, here you can go straight to an initial no-obligation check.

Who will operate the solar park?

There are various ways to do this: You can run an EWS Sonnenfeld® yourself as a landowner or as a professional solar park operator, or join forces with other interested parties to form an operator community/energy community. A municipal EWS Sonnenfeld® with citizen participation increases identification with the project and raises acceptance of renewable energy projects.

What potential does Austria have for Sonnenfelder?

If every second municipality in Austria were to implement a 10-hectare solar field, the solar power generated could cover 17% of Austria's total electricity consumption. There are around 2,100 municipalities in Austria. 1,000 agri-PV systems (one in every 2nd municipality) can generate 12 TWh of solar power, which corresponds to 17% of our total electricity consumption.

Can an EWS Sonnenfeld® be fertilised and can plant protection be applied?

Yes, both are possible. It is necessary that these arable measures are only carried out after consultation with the operator of the Agri-PV system. For fertilisation and crop protection measures on the EWS Sonnenfeld®, only the "cultivation mode" with horizontal module table position should be selected 

For soil improvement measures with dust formation, such as liming, the "harvesting mode" with maximum clearance height should be selected in order to minimise contamination of the PV modules. This creates a tunnelling effect that keeps the dust on the cultivation area and reduces the spread of dust.

Is an irrigation system required in addition to the distribution of precipitation on the cultivated area?

No, the precipitation mode distributes the precipitation evenly over the entire area from a certain intensity onwards. 

How high is the power consumption of the drive motors in the sun tracker?

The power consumption of a drive motor is negligible. The motor only has 370 watts of power and only runs for around half an hour per day. A single motor moves an entire tracker length of up to 180 metres.

When and where was the first EWS Sonnenfeld® built?

The first EWS Sonnenfeld® was built in Bruck an der Leitha, Lower Austria, in 2022. It is also a research project supported by BOKU Vienna. Both the electricity yield in comparison to other PV systems and the development of various agricultural crops between the modules in comparison to reference areas are being investigated.

Has an EWS Sonnenfeld® been built in Germany and where is it located?

Yes, at the university campus of the Max Planck Institute in Potsdam. There was a tender that we won, which we are very proud of.

Do Agri-PV systems increase the cleaning effort for the modules and thus the operating costs?

No, in addition to the precipitation mode, there is also a cleaning mode in which the modules are positioned very steeply against the rain by the technical management system. This means that the cleaning effort is even less than for fixed-mounted PV systems.

Is the maintenance of biodiversity strips higher than for ground-mounted PV systems?

No, with the EWS Sonnenfeld® with only one row of driven piles in the flower strips and module table heights of up to 2.8 metres, cultivation is even much more convenient than with fixed systems, which often have several driven piles, numerous cross struts and a low construction height.

.