Sint-Truiden (Brussels Morning Newspaper): In Sint-Truiden, solar panel projects over a pear orchard will study agrovoltaics, reducing costs and pesticide use. The project will start in April 2025.
In Sint-Truiden, solar panels will be placed above a pear orchard next to a fruit research centre. This project will look into using solar panels over crops, which is called “agrovoltaics.” The Flemish government wants to be careful about putting solar panels on farmland but is open to ideas for fruit growing. It has been said that the project is getting support from the Leader program, showing how farming and new ideas can work together, especially as farmers face tough weather and rising energy prices.
What are the benefits of installing solar panels over pear orchards in Sint-Truiden?
In Sint-Truiden, solar panels are being set up above a pear orchard to study their effects on the trees and fruit. The project will check how much light the panels block and if they can protect the trees from bad weather like hail and frost. Researchers also want to see if the panels can reduce the need for pesticides by keeping some rain off the crops. This effort aims to help farmers lower energy costs and make farming greener. In the future, the energy produced could be shared with local people and businesses while teaching the community about this new technology.
Solar panels above pear trees are a new thing in Limburg. The first to try this in Flanders was a fruit farm run by brothers Jan and Patrick Van der Velpen in Bierbeek. In 2020, researchers from KU Leuven put solar panels over a pear orchard there, and they are studying it now. The new project in Sint-Truiden will be much bigger, which will help get better results. These solar panels will start working in early April.
