Agrivoltaics on arable land — construction of structures on agricultural land
The agrovoltaic plant is a photovoltaic power plant located on agricultural land that remains agriculturally managed. The Czech facility is built on the principle that the land does not deprive it of the agricultural land fund and agricultural activity must take place throughout the entire operation of the production plant. Therefore, a reversible base without concrete is not just a technical advantage in agrivoltaics — it is a prerequisite for compliance with regulations.
What Czech legislation allows and requires
Agrovoltaics were introduced into Czech law by Act No. No. 183/2024 Coll., Amending Act No. 334/1992 Coll. on the Protection of the Agricultural Soil Fund. The technical conditions are set out in Decree No. No. 425/2024 Coll. on agrovoltaic electricity production, as amended by Decree No. 463/2025 Coll. effective as of 1. 12. 2025.
The following points are essential for establishing:
Land is not being taken from the ZPF. Unlike a conventional land-based photovoltaic system, the land is not removed from the agricultural land fund — approval from the relevant ZPF protection authority is required. The land remains registered in the LPIS and must continue to be managed.
The most valuable land is excluded. The agrovoltaic plant cannot be placed on the land of Class I and II of the ZPF protection zone.
Defined cultures. The decree targets primarily permanent crops and specialized areas: vineyards, hop gardens, fruit orchards, nurseries, areas with greenhouses, container farms, and selected areas of arable land used for vegetable cultivation.
The height of the structure. In the horizontal type, the photovoltaic modules must be placed at least 210 cm above the ground surface, In order to allow agricultural activity and the passage of machinery underneath, the vertical type places the modules vertically at defined distances between the rows.
Reporting obligation. The start of operation is notified to the ZPF protection authority and the Ministry within 15 days.
Always check the specific conditions with the relevant ZPF protection authority — the interpretation varies for different cultures and types of construction.
Why ground anchors
In agrivoltaics, the choice of the base does not derive from economics but directly from the requirements of the regulation.
Agricultural activity must continue. Concrete footings between rows mean a permanent obstacle to cultivation — for a crop that is to be further cultivated and recorded in the LPIS, this is a problem. The ground rut takes up a spot with a diameter of several centimeters and leaves nothing between the rows to prevent the machinery from being driven in.
The land remains in the ZPF. The foundation must be removable so that the land can be returned to its original state. The ground screw is unscrewed, the area is leveled, and the steel goes for recycling — without demolition and without transporting the concrete rubble.
Higher construction means higher load. The requirement of at least 210 cm above the ground creates a structure with a significantly larger area exposed to the wind than a standard low FVE stand. The base therefore has to account for higher drag and horizontal loads — and this corresponds to the requirement for torque and depth of penetration.
Short seasonal window. In a vineyard, hop yard or orchard, planting can only be done outside the key phases of vegetation and harvest. The base, which can be loaded immediately after digging, allows the entire cycle to be completed in one go — without concrete curing.
Specificities of establishing perennial cultures
Narrow intermediate position. Vineyards and intensive plantations have row spacings of a few units of meters, often below three meters. The width of the machine is therefore just as important a parameter as its power. Glentor A70 it has a transport width of 902 mm, B80 980 mm — both can pass through the intermediate section that would be impassable for conventional loading equipment.
The root system of the existing culture. In cases where the structures are being installed in an existing vineyard or orchard, the placement of the points must be designed so that the drilling does not affect the plant’s root system. Precise marking and the point-based nature of the drilling are an advantage over a flat excavation.
Sloping land. Vineyards are usually planted on slopes. The inclination of the trellis ±18° on the A70 and B80 models allows you to screw the bar vertically even on steep terrain without the need for any terrain modifications.
Replacing soil profiles. Agricultural land is not homogeneous. Two-mode operation — high torque at low speeds for the harder layers, lower torque at high speeds for rapid progress — shortens the time to a point without changing the machine.
Recommended machine for agrivoltaics
Glentor B80 — primary election. Torque of 8,000 Nm at 20 rpm and compressive force of 12,000 N cover the load of heavier load-bearing structures and tougher ground profiles. Remote control allows the operator to work outside the machine with a direct view of the point — essential in the intermediate stage between high-growing crops.
Glentor A70 — for narrow aisles. The width of 902 mm and a weight of 1,700 kg make it the choice for vineyards, intensive orchards and nurseries where trafficability and low pressure on the surface are crucial. The torque of 7,000 Nm at 13 rpm covers common agricultural soil profiles.
Glentor C65 — for longer holes and hard substrates. Where loadability is sought deeper, or in vertical systems with higher requirements for anchoring, the C65 offers a stud up to 3.5 m and a pilot up to 4.3 m. Additionally, side mounting allows working close to the existing structure or support system of the vineyard.
| Criterion | A70 | B80 | C65 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torque | 7,000 Nm | 8 000 Nm | 6,500 Nm |
| Downward force | 5,000 N | 12,000 N | 12,000 N |
| Max. screw length | 2.4 m | 2.5 metres | 3.5m |
| Width | 902 mm | 980 mm | side-mounting |
| Mass | 1.7 tonnes | 2,480 kg | 3 050 kg |
| Carriage elevation | ±18° / 8° | ±18° / 8° | ±15° / 8° |
| Suitable for | vineyards, gardens, nurseries | most AVE projects | hard substrate, longer drill holes |
Procedure for establishing an agrovoltaic plant
- Approval from the ZPF protection authority and project preparation. Verification of the class of protection of the site and the culture, and recording in the LPIS. The designer will design the type of structure (horizontal with a height of at least 210 cm, or vertical) and the statician will determine the arrangement and depth of the bolts according to the wind load.
- Geotechnical survey and test drilling. Verification of soil profile and load-bearing capacity at a representative point. Basis for design according to Eurocode 7 and for the screw type option.
- Designation taking into account culture and the operation of the machinery. The geodet will mark points so that they respect the spacing of rows, the root system, and the maneuvering space of agricultural machinery.
- Turning with a telematics record. The machine drills holes to the prescribed depth; the telematics unit records the torque and depth of each point — a proof of load-bearing capacity for both static and ZPF protection purposes.
- Assembly of the structure and modules. The supporting structure is installed immediately after drilling, without waiting for the concrete to harden. Next comes the assembly of the modules and connection.
- Announcement of the start and resumption of operations. Within 15 days of the notification to the ZPF protection authority and the Ministry. Agricultural activity continues under the structure even among the rows.
What happens after the operation ends
It is here that the reversible foundation pays the most. After the end of the factory’s lifespan, the structure is dismantled and the anchors are re-drilled with the same machine that they were originally installed with. The land returns to its original state without demolition, without removing the concrete and without reclaiming the area — which corresponds to the logic of the regulation, according to which the land from the ZPF has never left the site.
In addition, the steel of the ground screw is fully recyclable, and if the condition of the screws allows, they can be reused on another project.
| Criterion | Concrete footings | Ground screws |
|---|---|---|
| An obstacle to row-by-row cultivation | Permanent | Point, minimum |
| Loadability of the foundation | After hardening | Immediately after drilling |
| Implementation in the seasonal window | Difficult | Practical |
| Returning the property to its original state | Demolition and removal | Unbolting the screw |
| Weather dependency | Vysoká | Low |
| Document proving the loadability of an individual point | Indirect | Telematics record |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it necessary to expropriate land from the agricultural land fund for agrovoltaics?
No. According to Act No. 334/1992 Coll., as amended by Act No. 183/2024 Coll., the agrovoltaic plant is built on the principle that agricultural land from the ZPF is not taken away — approval from the relevant ZPF protection authority is required and the land remains registered in the LPIS and is agriculturally managed. This is a fundamental difference compared to conventional land-based photovoltaic installations.
On what types of land can an agrovoltaic plant be placed?
Decree No. 425/2024 Coll., as amended by Decree No. 463/2025 Coll., targets permanent crops and specialized areas — vineyards, hop gardens, fruit orchards, nurseries, areas with greenhouses, container farms, and selected areas of arable land with vegetable cultivation. The main advantage of agrovoltaics is that it can be placed on land of I. and II. class of protection of the ZPF, unlike standard photovoltaic power plants, because the land remains within the agricultural fund and continues to be managed.
How high must the panels be above the ground?
In the horizontal type of agrovoltaic plant, the photovoltaic modules must be placed at least 210 cm above the ground surface so that agricultural activity and the passage of machinery can be possible under the structure. The vertical type places the modules vertically with defined spacings between rows. In the case of movable modules, the height is assessed at the most accessible horizontal or vertical position.
Should I run a rototiller between the vineyard or the orchard?
The Glentor A70 has a transport width of 902 mm and a weight of 1,700 kg, while the B80 has a width of 980 mm. Both models can travel on a standard vineyard row spacing and an intensive row spacing. We recommend checking the specific passability before starting work, based on the actual spacing between rows and the support system.
Is it possible to plant in a steep vineyard?
Yes. The ±18° tilt of the blade on the A70 and B80 models allows the screw to be rotated vertically even on slopes without any adjustments to the terrain. For steeper slopes or non-standard configurations, we recommend assessing the specific location before choosing a model.
Can the structure be removed after the operation is completed without any consequences for the land?
Yes, and in the case of agrovoltaics, this is crucial. The earthworks are done with the same machine that was used to drill the holes, the area is levelled out, and the steel goes for recycling. No concrete sludge is produced, nor is there a need for extensive reclamation — the land returns to its state before the installation.
How is the load-bearing capacity of the foundation for statics demonstrated?
The machine's telematics unit records the torque and depth of each turned screw. This recording serves as a basis for both the statics and for the investor. The design of the load-bearing capacity itself is based on geotechnical surveys and procedures according to Eurocode 7, In the case of agrovoltaics, higher structures are required due to the increased wind load.
Where to continue
- Choosing the model according to the project parameters: How to choose a turning machine
- Classic ground-mounted PV systems without agricultural operation: Solar parks on ground screws
- Other structures on agricultural land: Agricultural structures on earthen piles
- Normative background of establishing: Eurocode 7 and ground screws
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