This activity, held simultaneously in Portugal (Évora) and Spain (Badajoz), marked the beginning of a series of organized meetings aimed at publicly presenting and discussing models, practices, and opportunities created by agrovoltaic production systems.

Targeting actors from the agricultural and energy sectors, the event sought to engage producers and associations, public administrations, companies, and educational and research institutions, as well as other stakeholders from the energy and environmental sectors.

Luís Fialho, a researcher at the Renewable Energy Chair of the University of Évora (CER-UÉ), stated that the meeting was “enriching and essential for the advancement of the agrovoltaic theme. The interaction between various actors from the agricultural sector, public administration, services, and academia provided an essential exchange of knowledge and experiences for understanding the challenges and opportunities of this emerging field.”

During the discussions, Luís Fialho mentioned that “specific needs were identified, such as the development of technologies adapted to the realities of the field, the improvement of government incentives, licensing, and the technical training of farmers. Barriers, such as the lack of awareness of the advantages of agrovoltaic systems and the complexity of regulations, were thoroughly debated, generating valuable insights into potential solutions as well as ways to overcome them.”

“This workshop reinforced the importance of cooperation between different sectors for the success of the Agrovoltep project, highlighting that technological innovation, combined with sustainability, is the path to the future of agriculture and renewable energy generation,” he concluded.

The event was organized by the Central Alentejo Intermunicipal Community, the University of Évora, and Make it Better, in partnership with the MUSOL Foundation, the Municipality of Arroyo de la Luz, and the Associação Objetivos.