The challenge “Innovative solutions for the integration of agro-zoological activities within solar power plant” was launched by Innovation Global Power Generation in 2020. 

The combination of agriculture and photovoltaic (PV) plants is part of the strategic approach adopted by GPG to support the energy transition and create shared value for local ecosystems at the same time.

The aim of the challenge was to identify agricultural or zoological activities that could be co-located and integrated within ground-mounted, utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) plants, without impacts on existing plant layout. 

Three valuable solutions were selected as winners, proposing the cultivation of cucurbits in the rows spacing and underneath the panels (solution #1) and the breeding of crickets (solution #2) and earthworms (solution#3) below the panels. The evaluation of potential host sites to test these solutions is ongoing, in order to validate them for a possible adoption in selected PV plants worldwide.