HoPVen – Impacts of agrivoltaics on hop production and biodiversity

Abstract

Increasing temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and a growing frequency of extreme weather events pose significant challenges to hop cultivation in Europe, particularly in the Hallertau region, the world’s largest hop-growing area. The research project “HoPVen” investigated the effects of agrivoltaics (AV) on soil moisture, plant health, hop yield and quality, as well as on flora and fauna, in a two-year field trial conducted during the 2024 and 2025 growing seasons. As part of the experiment, the hop varieties Hallertauer Tradition (HTR) and Herkules (HKS) were cultivated under two different shading treatments, corresponding to reductions in solar radiation (RSR) of 28 % and 37 %, respectively, and compared with an unshaded control. The results demonstrated that the agrivoltaic system improved soil moisture retention, particularly during the comparatively dry growing season 2025. While powdery mildew infestations increased under the AV system, hop aphid settlement was noticeably reduced. Hop yield declined with increasing shading intensity; however, shading had only a minor effect on alpha acid concentration and hop oil content. No significant effects of the agrivoltaic system on flora and fauna within the hop field were observed. Instead, biodiversity patterns were primarily influenced
by agricultural management practices. These findings indicate that agrivoltaic systems may support climate change adaptation in hop cultivation without adversely affecting the characteristic agroecosystem. Further optimisation of system design and management is required to improve yield performance and maintain plant health.