Study Visit in Belgium within the frame of the EAGER Project
On November the 5th and 6th, 2025, a Study visit was organised in Leuven, Belgium, within the frame of the EAGER project: “Easing AGrophotovoltaics for EuRope”. The Provincial Development Agency (POM) Flemish Brabant, in collaboration with the Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven), hosted this two-day event, bringing together regional partners, policymakers, and experts from across Europe to exchange experiences, identify best practices, and strengthen policy instruments supporting agrivoltaics systems.
The event opened with welcoming remarks by Gunther Coppens, Deputy of the Province of Flemish Brabant for Spatial Planning and Chair of POM, setting the stage for two days of knowledge exchange on advancing agrivoltaics solutions.
During the first day, Belgium partners and stakeholders presented inspiring examples of how agriculture and renewable energy can go hand in hand, showcasing good practices that demonstrate the dual benefits of electricity generation and food production (Jan Cappelle, Professor, Electrical Energy Systems and Applications (ELECTA), KU Leuven) and how energy communities in agriculture can be set up (Fien Van Esch, Consultant Energy, Boerenbond). The discussions also focused on improving policy instruments, exploring industrial business cases (Brecht Willockx, Associate Strategic Development, Storm), and presenting real-life experiences from the implementation of agrivoltaics systems in Hoogstraten, Belgium.
The first working day concluded with strategic planning discussions to define the next steps of the project and ensure the continued exchange of knowledge among partner regions.
The second day was dedicated to on-site study visits, offering participants a first-hand look at how agrivoltaics systems are being applied in practice from a research and policy perspective — from integrating solar panels into fruit cultivation to exploring pioneering research on renewable energy and smart grid technologies.
The first visit that was showcased was the TRANSfarm – a project that facilitates scientific research on a pilot scale in the broad research domains of the sustainable bioeconomy and translational biomedical research. Their agrivoltaics pilot site is designed to investigate and demonstrate technology tailored for high-intensity farming systems. The setup features a tall structure with increased steal use but delivers flexibility and higher energy output. Moreover, hydrogen solar panels are integrated into the agrivoltaics installation
Another exciting visit was the one to Vandervelpen – a farm specialising in sustainable fruit cultivation. In their agrivoltaics system, pears grow in a protected environment with reduced solar irradiance, a modified microclimate, and a potential physical cover protecting against hail damage.
The next visit was PCfruit – it covers applied scientific research, demonstration activities to fruit growers, co-development programs with various kinds of industries and services for fruit growers. PC Fruit very recently developed a new test site for agrivoltaics in collaboration with KU Leuven and Boerenbond to evaluate how different types of solar panels affect the growth and production of raspberries.
The event concluded with a visit to EnergyVille. This is a collaboration between the Belgian research partners KU Leuven, VITO, imec and UHasselt in the fields of sustainable energy and intelligent energy systems. Their activities are clustered in eight interdisciplinary domains: solar energy, battery storage, power electronics, power-to-molecules, thermal systems, electrical networks, energy for buildings and districts, energy strategies and markets.
The study visit not only strengthened collaboration between European regions but also showcased how agrivoltaics innovations can drive both environmental and economic sustainability.
More about EAGER:
With the EU aiming for significant renewable energy expansion, APV systems can bridge land optimization difficulties by combining solar energy production with crop cultivation on the same parcel of land. APV also offers investment opportunities for numerous stakeholders and fosters collaboration with local communities in their transition to renewable energy.
The EAGER project facilitates the adoption of APV systems across partner regions. By fostering a shared understanding of this technology, identifying best practices, and enhancing policy instruments, this project is paving the way for a greener future.
Follow us for more news on this hot topic on Facebook, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn, and visit our Project website: https://www.interregeurope.eu/eager to subscribe to our newsletter.
