Pforzheim, July 21, 2021. Pioneering projects for a sustainable energy industry have now been honored with The smarter E AWARD 2021. BayWa r.e. Solar Projects, Boreal Light, and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy have been announced as the winners in the Outstanding Projects category. The prize in the Smart Renewable Energy category was awarded to HPS Home Power Solutions. The award ceremony was held online as part of The smarter E Industry Days from July 21 to 23, 2021, when the Intersolar AWARD and ees AWARD innovation prizes were presented too. Lots of the winners and finalists will be showcasing their innovations at The smarter E Europe Restart 2021 at Messe München from October 6 to 8.
This year, companies were once again rewarded for their pioneering solutions with the most important innovation prize in the energy industry, The smarter E AWARD. Projects completed in the areas of solar, storage, and energy management took center stage in the Outstanding Projects category. And it was a home hydrogen solar energy storage system that wowed the panel of experts this year in the Smart Renewable Energy category. On July 21, 2021, the winners of The smarter E AWARD were honored in a live-streamed virtual award ceremony with an international audience. Anyone wanting to check out the award-winning projects and speak to the winners and finalists will be able to catch them at The smarter E Europe Restart 2021 at Messe München from October 6 to 8.
The Winners in the Outstanding Projects Category
BayWa r.e. Solar Projects (Germany): Agrivoltaic System Protects Berry Production
Munich-based BayWa r.e. provides integrated, sustainable energy solutions and management systems for commercial and industrial clients. Their “Fruitvoltaic” agrivoltaic project is a 2.7-megawatt PV installation at a raspberry farm covering over three hectares in the Netherlands. Special semi-transparent PV modules enable a higher light transmission and protect the fruit against direct sunlight, rain, and hail. The entire subsystem of the agricultural structure is integrated into the elevated PV mounting system. The project is being documented in partnership with Wageningen University.
The international panel of experts voted unanimously for this exemplary project, underlining its global potential. In addition to its proven ability to boost berry yield by 6.5 percent and generate revenue via photovoltaics, this agrivoltaic installation replaces the plastic sheeting usually used when cultivating berries, minimizes pesticide use, and increases water use efficiency. The panel of experts also pointed out that this BayWa r.e. project could help diffuse land-use conflicts between the energy and agricultural sectors.
