First EAGER Stakeholder Meeting in Germany

The first stakeholder group meeting was part of the Interreg Europe Project EAGER, which aims to accelerate the adoption of agri-photovoltaics (APV) in Europe and optimize the political framework governing this technology. The topics discussed during the meeting are intended to be disseminated throughout the region.

The core of the stakeholder meeting focused on providing an overview of the project's current status along with the resulting next steps. Project Manager Agnes Frank began with a brief introduction to the project, emphasizing the importance of international learning and exchanging best practices among various project regions in Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Spain, Lithuania, Poland, Serbia, and Ukraine. This exchange is particularly crucial for improving governance processes related to APV across national borders.

Methodical Support for Policy Improvement

In the first presentation, Ben Färber from TZE discussed methodical support aimed at enhancing policies related to APV. He presented a detailed site analysis for Lower Bavaria, identifying opportunities, challenges, and possibilities for implementing APV. The findings from this analysis are intended to assist in determining the optimal locations for APV installations in the region. Following this, Fabian Eckbauer from Markt Ruhstorf provided insights into the practical implementation of APV projects, discussing the planning process, the creation of land use plans, and the significance of standards and procedures, as well as how the EAGER project specifically addresses policy improvements.

Good Practice Examples and Next Steps

Positive examples play a crucial role for both the project and policymakers in achieving their goals on a broader scale. Robert Hahn from TZE elaborated on good practice examples, presenting the criteria for selecting appropriate examples within the project, and showcased case studies from the Passau district. This led to discussions on other companies or initiatives that could be engaged as part of the project, fostering exchanges on relevant topics and challenges.

The preliminary analyses conducted as part of the EAGER project indicate significant potential for expanding APV in Lower Bavaria and broadly across Europe. However, numerous challenges have also been identified that must be considered. The project team is now collaborating with stakeholders to develop specific recommendations for policy and practice, aiming to disseminate these recommendations through their extensive network. The initial point of contact will be the "Integrated Rural Development ILE at Rott & Inn" cooperation, which consists of ten municipalities from the southern Passau district.