Agri-PV and Electric Tractors: Opportunities for the Swiss Energy Transition
EDGE Webinar on Agri-PV and Electric Tractors
On 10 February 2026, the SWEET EDGE consortium hosted a webinar exploring the role of agrivoltaics (Agri-PV) and agricultural electrification in Switzerland’s evolving energy system. The event brought together research and industry perspectives to discuss how solar energy and electric machinery could contribute to both decarbonisation and agricultural resilience.
The webinar featured presentations from Prof. Jürg Rohrer (ZHAW), Jan Burri (ewz) and Dr. Sabrina Mili (University of St. Gallen), and was moderated by Prof. Evelina Trutnevyte (University of Geneva). Together, the speakers examined the technical, economic and systemic aspects of integrating renewable energy solutions into agricultural systems.
Why Agri-PV matters for Switzerland
Switzerland’s energy transition requires a rapid increase in renewable electricity production. National targets foresee 35 TWh of electricity from new renewable sources by 2035 and 45 TWh by 2050, with photovoltaic energy expected to play a major role.
While rooftop solar remains a key priority, its potential is currently far from fully utilised. At the same time, the expansion pace required to meet national targets suggests that additional locations for solar deployment will be needed. Agrivoltaic systems offer one possible pathway by enabling dual land use, combining agricultural production with solar electricity generation.
Research insights: economic viability and system integration
In his presentation, Prof. Jürg Rohrer (ZHAW) addressed the technical and economic viability of Agri-PV systems in Switzerland. His research shows that agrivoltaic installations can support the energy transition while maintaining agricultural land use. Case studies demonstrate that the economic performance of such projects depends strongly on system design, electricity marketing strategies and grid connection conditions.
Importantly, Agri-PV installations do not necessarily reduce agricultural productivity and can even provide additional benefits such as crop protection or diversified farm income.
From site selection to energy products
Jan Burri (ewz) presented how Agri-PV can move from research concepts to practical energy solutions. His work focuses on the development of spatial decision-support tools that identify the most suitable agricultural areas for Agri-PV installations.
Beyond site prioritisation, Burri highlighted the importance of new electricity marketing models, including local electricity communities and self-consumption schemes. These mechanisms can improve the economic viability of solar installations while supporting local energy systems.
Electrification of agricultural machinery
The webinar also explored the electrification of farm equipment. Dr. Sabrina Mili (University of St. Gallen) examined the emerging European market for electric tractors, outlining both opportunities and current technological challenges.
Electric tractors offer several advantages, including lower operating costs, improved energy efficiency and the possibility to use farm-generated renewable electricity. However, barriers remain, such as higher upfront costs, battery limitations and operational constraints for high-power agricultural tasks.
Bridging research and practice
The discussions highlighted that the future of Agri-PV and agricultural electrification depends not only on technology, but also on policy frameworks, market models and stakeholder collaboration. By bringing together researchers, utilities and practitioners, the EDGE webinar aimed to contribute to a better understanding of how these solutions can be implemented in real-world contexts.