Agrivoltaics (AV), the dual use of land for solar power generation and agricultural production, offers a sustainable strategy for optimising land resources. Overhead photovoltaic (PV) modules can change microclimatic conditions, thereby influencing soil moisture, soil temperature, and air temperature and humidity. This study assessed the impact of AV systems on air and soil conditions in a pilot apple orchard in Kressbronn im Bodensee (Bodenseekreis district, Baden-Württemberg, Germany). A semi-transparent PV system (40% transparency) was installed, and soil and air parameters were continuously monitored between August 2024 and August 2025. The results show that AV increased average soil moisture by 11.8% and decreased average soil temperature by 0.8 °C compared to the reference area from a one-year period (August 2024 up to August 2025). Air temperatures beneath the modules were +0.2 °C higher in the early morning but lower (−0.5 °C) at midday during the warmer season. Relative humidity beneath the PV modules showed a diurnal pattern, with higher values than the open reference during nighttime and early morning hours, and lower values during certain daytime windows, resulting in an overall mean difference of −2.2%. These findings confirm that AV installations substantially alter microclimatic conditions, with potential implications for orchard management and crop productivity.
Pardo et al. (2026) studied this question.