Agrivoltaics - SUNTI joins forces with Sun'Agri

Sun'Agri and Sunti join forces to accelerate the development of agrivoltaics. The aim of this partnership between the two solar specialists is to offer farmers a tool for adapting to climate change, financed entirely by the production of green energy.

The story of agrivoltaics in France began in 2009, when Antoine Nogier, president and founder of the Sun'R group and Sun'Agri, met Christian Dupraz, a researcher in agroforestry at INRAE. Inspired by agroforestry, the aim is to demonstrate the benefits of controlled louver shading on agricultural production. Adjustable photovoltaic louvers installed on gantries will be used to determine the conditions under which photovoltaics can enhance agriculture without competing with it.

Pioneer and world leader in agrivoltaics, Sun'Agri has designed a system of dynamic solar panels that enable a real symbiosis between agricultural production and solar power generation on the same plot of land. Thanks to a structure that can be adapted to 4 or 5m above ground level, and pole spacing ranging from 7 to 11m, this technology allows agricultural machinery to circulate. What's more, this system is completely reversible and does not artificialize the soil: it requires no concrete for installation, thus limiting soil pollution and facilitating installation and dismantling. Its 90° mobile louvers create a favorable micro-climate for crops, protecting them from climatic excesses such as drought, scorching, spring frost, .... The AV Studio© software developed by Sun'Agri features control algorithms for orienting photovoltaic panels on a sub-hourly time scale, to dynamically optimize plant growth.

Sunti, a company based in Montpellier and Paris and a subsidiary of the SOPER* group, specializes in the development and design of solar projects to produce both solar heat and photovoltaic electricity. Sunti was founded in 2017 by Jean-Michel Germa, a pioneer of renewable energies in France.

Thanks to its expertise, Sunti offers tailor-made projects and innovative solutions to decarbonize our environment and meet the needs of landowners, industrialists, local authorities and farmers: grid injection, self-consumption, energy storage, solar heat, new mobility... and now agrivoltaics! The company is fully committed to the fight against climate change, and supports its customers in a greener strategy that reconciles competitiveness with a reduced environmental footprint.

The partnership signed between Sun'Agri and Sunti aims to accelerate the development of agrivoltaics for vineyards, orchards and market gardens. With its network and financing capacity, Sunti will work alongside farmers to take charge of the project from A to Z: development, construction, financing and operation. Sun'Agri will manage the solar louvers and contribute its agronomic expertise during the design phase.

This signature highlights the synergy of skills between the two companies, and heralds a partnership for the future!

*Since 1989, SOPER has contributed to the installation of over 500MW of solar and wind farms.

"Agrivoltaics is one of the ways in which solar energy can be used to protect crops from the effects of climate change. We're delighted to be working with Sun'Agri to promote this forward-looking technology.

Jean-Michel GermaGroup Chairman Soper and Sunti

"Agrivoltaics is a technology whose primary aim is to serve farmers. That's why it's vital for farmers to be able to benefit from both technical and financial support in carrying out their projects. Thanks to Sunti's expertise, this support has been strengthened, facilitating the development of agrivoltaics in France.

Antoine Nogierpresident of Sun'Agri