CMS Expert Guide to Agrivoltaics and Floating Photovoltaics in Slovakia

The term “Agrivoltaics” stems from the practice of combining agricultural activities with the development of photovoltaics to produce (solar) energy and represents a unique opportunity to address two key challenges in Europe: energy transition and food security. The development of agrivoltaics is an emerging field in Slovakia. 

At the time of writing, there is no specific legislation governing agrivoltaics exclusively, and due to their regulatory complexity their development is governed by various regulations, including the Energy Act, 1  the Act on the Promotion of Renewable Energy Sources, 2  the Agricultural Land Act, 3  the Act on Network Industries Act, 4  and other laws on environmental protection. 

There are currently no large-scale operational agrivoltaic projects in Slovakia, and only limited precedents of agrivoltaic projects being planned and developed in Slovakia. 

The concept is relatively new as the first news about agrivoltaics in Slovakia appeared only as late as 2022, and while there have been pilot projects and research initiatives, large-scale commercial implementations are still in their infancy. 

There is news of some small-scale projects that have been initiated by research institutions and private enterprises to explore the feasibility and benefits of agrivoltaics in the context of the Slovak energy market. 

As mentioned above, due to the complex regulatory framework including a variety of legislation, the hurdles listed below may impact the development of agrivoltaics in Slovakia: 

• Land Use Regulations: Agrivoltaics projects are obliged to comply with land use regulations. The application of these regulations is at the discretion of the municipalities and may therefore vary from region to region. Obtaining the necessary permits for dual-use land can be challenging in the absence of specific legislation.
• Environmental Impact Assessments: Larger projects may require comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) to ensure they do not adversely affect local ecosystems. The EIA process can be administratively challenging, typically taking several months to complete.
• Grid Connection Capacity and Energy Regulation: Connecting agrivoltaic systems to the distribution network involves securing grid connection agreements with the local distribution network operators for the purposes of reserving capacity, which is rather limited in the Slovak Republic. Therefore, the procedure may be time-consuming and costly.
• Agricultural Subsidies: Farmers receiving subsidies for traditional agricultural activities may face restrictions or need to navigate additional bureaucratic processes to integrate solar energy production. 

Given Slovakia’s geological profile, the country has significant potential for agrivoltaics due to its favourable climatic conditions and the availability of extensive agricultural land. The integration of solar panels into agricultural activities can have a beneficial impact on the following: (i) land use efficiency; (ii) increasing renewable energy production, (iii) providing additional income streams for farmers, and (iv) attracting new types of investors to renewable energy sources.

The potential is particularly high in the southern regions of Slovakia, which are known for their abundant sunlight, high quality soil and vibrant agricultural activity. However, realising the potential of agrivoltaics will require favourable policies, increased investment in related R&D activities, and increased awareness among stakeholders. In addition, the development of agrivoltaics is in line with the European Union’s goals for increasing renewable energy production and achieving climate neutrality by 2050, as outlined in the European Green Deal, and can potentially help Slovakia meet its commitments. 

Financial support for agrivoltaics in Slovakia is currently limited but developing. However, investments in agrivoltaics may benefit from various European funds and programmes that support renewable energy and sustainable agriculture. Potential funding sources include: 

• European Union Funds: Slovakia has access to various EU funding programmes aimed at promoting renewable energy and sustainable agriculture, such as (i) the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (“EAFRD”), (ii) the Horizon Europe programme, (iii) Life Programme and similar funding schemes.
• National Grants and Subsidies: The Slovak government offers grants and subsidies for renewable energy projects that may be applicable to agrivoltaics. These include incentives for solar energy installations and support for innovative agricultural practices.
• Private Investment and Loans: Private investors and financial institutions are increasingly interested in financing sustainable energy projects. Loans and investment funds dedicated to green energy can provide additional financial support for Agrivoltaics projects. 

In conclusion, although the development of agrivoltaics in Slovakia is still in its early stages, the potential for growth is significant for the reasons outlined above. However, overcoming regulatory hurdles and securing financial support will be crucial for the successful implementation and expansion of agrivoltaics in the Slovak Republic. 

There is no specific legislation in Slovakia that exclusively regulates FPV. Accordingly, FPV fall under the broader general legislative framework governing renewable energy sources, as listed above for agrivoltaics. 

If the development of FPV was to gain popularity in Slovakia, it would likely result in various amendments to the current legislative framework, and the impact of FPV on the water ecosystem would require further consideration under related environmental legislation. Under the current legislative framework, FPV are not listed among accepted hydraulic engineering structures. 

To date, there have been no widely publicised precedents of FPV projects in Slovakia. The concept of the Floating PV is still considered relatively new in the Slovakian RES market and has not yet seen significant adoption. However, growing interest in RES projects and the potential benefits of FPV, such as reduced land use and increased efficiency due to the cooling effect of the water, suggest that Slovakia may follow other CEE countries and soon see pilot projects and initial implementations. 

As the development of FPV is still in its infancy, both from a regulatory and market perspective, the same hurdles can be expected as mentioned above regarding agrivoltaics. 

In addition, the development of FPV would be subject to a complex permitting and approval procedure, which would likely include an Environmental Impact Assessment to ensure that the construction does not harm the local aquatic ecosystems. 

Slovakia is home to some of the most substantial natural stocks of fresh drinking water in the world. This is mainly due to the largest river island in Europe: Žitný Ostrov. The water ecosystem consists of 12 large dams, various rivers and hundreds of natural and artificial lakes. This makes Slovakia a viable market for FPV, which can be built on any of the largest dams and on the rivers. The most significant river crossing in Slovakia is the Danube River, which also includes a major barrage project called the Gabčíkovo–Nagymaros Dams. 

In addition, there is an average of around 2,100 hours of sunshine per year, making Slovakia perfect for FPV projects. 

There are no specific financial support schemes for FPV in Slovakia, but it is likely that projects related to the implementation of FPV would be eligible for similar support schemes as standard PVs. It remains to be seen whether the current support schemes would be amended, or a new support scheme would be launched once the first FPV projects materialise.