GCL Unveils Next-Gen Solar Solutions for Major Agrivoltaics Project in Germany

GCL Delivers Innovative Solar Technology for Agrivoltaic Project in Germany

GCL System Integration (GCL SI), a leading name in renewable energy, has taken a significant step in advancing agrivoltaic initiatives by supplying advanced solar equipment for the Tützpatz agrivoltaic power plant in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. This facility, officially launched by the Swedish energy giant Vattenfall, stands as one of the largest agrivoltaic projects in the country with a total installed capacity of 76 MW.

Key Features of the Tützpatz Power Plant

The Tützpatz power plant sprawls over an impressive 93 hectares, featuring a total of 146,000 bifacial high-efficiency 550W solar modules from GCL SI. These state-of-the-art solar panels not only highlight GCL's technological leadership but also mark their pivotal role as a contractor specializing in agrivoltaics, demonstrating the efficient integration of agricultural practices with solar energy generation.

The project's economic feasibility is further substantiated by a ten-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) signed with PASM, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom, ensuring that the entire energy production from the plant will be utilized. This milestone showcases GCL's commitment to transforming the energy landscape by effectively demonstrating the adaptability and resilience of their solar modules to various geographical and regulatory conditions.

Innovative Solar Solutions

GCL's solar panels are specifically designed to feature customizable light transmissivity levels ranging from 15% to 40%. This unique adaptability strikes a perfect balance between solar energy production and crop cultivation needs. The construction of these panels, equipped with dual glass layers and full aluminum frames, has undergone rigorous reliability testing. They have successfully faced over 1,000 hours of saline mist exposure and 500 hours of ammonia exposure, ensuring exceptional durability in high-humidity and high-salt environments, particularly those associated with intensive livestock farming.

Combined with 2.8-meter-high PHC mounting structures and single-axis trackers, GCL’s system instruments a 'technology-available, light-controlled' environment where land-use efficiency surpasses 80%.

Intelligent Project Management Technology

Another game-changer from GCL includes an intelligent management platform for agrivoltaic projects. This platform integrates meteorological data, crop growth sensors, and inverter analyses. By employing AI algorithms, it optimally adjusts module tilt and watering schedules, thereby increasing alfalfa yields beneath the panels by 20% and reducing irrigation needs by 15% in a 310MW project in Zhejiang. Similarly, a motorized adjustable stand upgrade increased the yields of camellia seed oil by 30% and improved solar energy generation by 8%, effectively achieving a 'double harvest' of both agricultural and energy outputs.

Commitment to Sustainability

On August 21, GCL SI formally embraced the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), committing to establish emission reduction methods aligned with SBTi methodologies to achieve short-term goals and carbon neutrality. This milestone underscores GCL's accountability and competitive edge in sustainability as well as its leadership position in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria.

GCL maintains a vertically integrated supply chain which results in significant cost advantages. By utilizing its self-manufactured granulated silicon, the cost of module production has decreased by 8-12% compared to using external sources. Collaborative purchasing with industrial partners also lowers system balance costs by approximately 5%. The use of internal engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) expertise further allows GCL to shorten project construction times by around 20% and decrease overall expenses by 10%. These strengths have been demonstrated in projects across Guangxi, Xinjiang, and Anhui.

Future Outlook

Looking ahead, GCL is dedicated to solidifying its leadership in agrivoltaics. The company is exploring tandem modules combining perovskite and silicon for enhanced light transmission, aiming to further strengthen the synergy between agriculture and solar energy production. Furthermore, GCL is accelerating the realization of gigawatt-scale agrivoltaic projects in resource-rich regions, such as Southwest and Northwest China. By merging photovoltaics, agriculture, and carbon tracking into scalable models, GCL SI is committed to transforming agricultural lands into productive ecological energy bases, supporting the energy transition and the modernization of agriculture in the process.