MoorPower: Sustainable and innovative photovoltaic solutions for rewetted peatlands: Acceptance and socio-economics of peatland PV

Background:

The most effective measure for reducing emissions from drained peatlands is the rewetting of peatlands. As many of the previous forms of agricultural utilisation are no longer possible after rewetting, alternatives are needed. A new, economically attractive option after rewetting could be the construction of ground-mounted photovoltaic systems (peatland PV) in addition to the site-adapted use of rewetted peatlands (paludiculture), which can also be combined with each other and thus allow the land to be used for two purposes. Since the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) came into force in 2023, peatland PV systems have already been eligible for funding as ‘special solar systems’. The Federal Network Agency has drawn up more specific requirements for this, including compliance with minimum water levels.

The objectives of the MoorPower research project are to comprehensively analyse the technical, ecological and socio-economic effects and legal issues of the combination of peatland rewetting and photovoltaic, including in combination with paludiculture (Paludi PV), and to derive recommendations for the concrete implementation of peatland/Paludi PV in Germany.

Project goals:

• Development of possible (Paludi) PV systems (pilot systems) that can cope with the conditions in the peatland, testing of different module types and optimisation of water levels
•  Quantification of the water balance, identification of hydrogeochemical processes and fluxes, evaluation of possible consequences for future developments.
• Determination of the GHG exchange of peatland PV systems in different configurations and at different water levels
• Quantification of the effects of PV systems in rewetted peatlands on microorganisms, vegetation and animals
• Investigation of the economic and social effects of peatland PV and acceptance of peatland PV by different interest groups
• Legal support for the approval process, preparation of guidelines for local authorities

Sub-project on economics and acceptance

Based on the pilot plants, the economic and social effects of different peatland PV systems are analysed:

• In co-operation with industrial partners, the economic viability of different types of systems will be estimated. Additional costs arising from special technical requirements for the peatland PV systems are considered. The distribution of costs and benefits among the various stakeholders is taken into account in an economic analysis.
• The local acceptance of peatland PV by various stakeholders (farmers, landowners, project developers, energy suppliers, local residents, nature conservation organisations, etc.) in the project regions is examined in a comparative case study. 
• Choice experiments are used to determine factors influencing the acceptance of peatland PV systems and alternative forms of land use, e.g. Paludi PV, in different population and stakeholder groups.