Uzbekistan is betting on agrivoltaics — a system that combines solar panels with agriculture. This technology promises to transform not only the country’s energy sector but also its agricultural economy. But where did the idea of combining plows and solar panels originate, and how has it evolved into a sustainable development strategy?

The Origins: Germany, 1981

The history of agrivoltaics dates back to the early 1980s. In 1981, German physicist Adolf Goetzberger, founder of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE), and his colleague Armin Zastrow published an article with the symbolic title “Kartoffeln unter dem Kollektor” (“Potatoes Under the Collector”).

The scientists proposed a simple but revolutionary idea: to use the same land both for growing crops and for installing solar panels. They demonstrated that with the right configuration, plants can still grow while panels generate electricity — creating a “dual harvest.”

Despite scientific interest, the technology remained experimental for decades, as solar panels were too expensive. It wasn’t until the early 2000s that agrivoltaics made its way into the fields (source: IEA-PVPS, International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems).

In 2004, Japanese engineer Akira Nagashima built the first demonstration systems. His designs could be dismantled or moved depending on crop rotation. After the Fukushima disaster in 2011, the idea gained new momentum: agrivoltaics began to be seen as a path to energy independence and sustainable agriculture.

By 2018, Japan had an agrivoltaic station with a capacity of 35 MW covering 54 hectares, growing ginseng and coriander beneath the panels.

In Europe (France, Germany, Italy), agrivoltaics is being tested with vineyards and orchards, where panels protect crops from hail and overheating.

In the USA, it is used in fields growing alfalfa, potatoes, and berries.

In China and India, crops like tea, rice, and vegetables are grown under panels, often paired with irrigation projects (source: greendealflow.com).

Today, this technology is considered a tool for ensuring both food and energy security.

For Uzbekistan, agrivoltaics is not just a trend but a strategic necessity.

In 2024, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev ordered the implementation of agrivoltaics in six regions of the country. The potential is estimated at 10 GW — a scale comparable to the energy consumption of an entire region (source: YUZ.UZ Yangi O‘zbekiston).

This goal aligns with the national strategy: by 2030, Uzbekistan aims to increase the share of renewable energy to 40% and build solar and wind power plants with a total capacity of 18 GW (source: UZ DAILY).

One of the confirmations of commitment to this strategy was the implementation of a project with financial support (equity capital) from the company VOLTALIA.

The project will be implemented in the Tashkent region based at the Research Institute of Vegetable, Melon, and Potato Crops.

Total project site area – 1.5 ha. Construction of Agri-PV under the name AGRISOLARPLOV, with the installation of 819 solar panels is planned to be located on a single land plot of 1.0 ha.

Planned annual electricity production will be up to 876 MWh.

Operating schedule of “AGRISOLARPLOV” – 365 days a year.

The construction period will take no more than 6 months, with the planned launch of the station – February 2026.

Although the integration of agrivoltaics into traditional agriculture will require farmers to adapt their agricultural machinery and gain new knowledge, the benefits are clear:

• increased food and energy security,

• new sources of income for rural residents,

• reduced pressure on water resources,

• contribution to combating climate change.

The history of agrivoltaics began with a metaphor — potatoes under a solar collector. Today, this idea is becoming a reality in Uzbekistan.

NBT Group is pleased to be part of this project and proud to contribute to the development of agrivoltaics in Uzbekistan.

We remind you that on July 29, NBT Group, together with the Center for State Environmental Expertise under the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, held another public hearing. During the event, a large-scale project for the installation of solar panels in the Tashkent district was reviewed. The full text of the public hearing can be found on our official Facebook and LinkedIn pages.

Agrivoltaics is the future, where harvest and energy grow together.