On a brilliantly sunny day in Wallonia, Belgium, the SolarPower Europe team visited the new Agri-PV site developed by Ether Energy in partnership with Calcaires de Florennes. This on-site tour highlighted a significant moment for European solar innovation, showcasing how clean energy, agriculture, and biodiversity can successfully coexist. This visit was part of our European Solar Day celebrations which takes place annually on 21 June, the longest and brightest day of the year.
SolarPower Europe CEO, Walburga Hemetsberger, commemorated the visit and European Solar Day by stating “We are not just celebrating the sun – we are celebrating progress. This agrisolar project is a shining example of what Europe needs more of: smart, sustainable partnerships, thanks to the collaboration between Ether Energy and Calcaires de Florennes.”
Alex Houtart, Partner & Head of Project Finance at Ether Energy remarked “The Calcaires de Florennes solar project is a prime example of European energy sovereignty in action. It effectively decarbonises industrial operations with green electricity, supports local agriculture by integrating sheep farming with solar panels, and fosters community energy autonomy through affordable, local power, directly tackling Europe's need for sustainable and independent energy.”
The site will combine over 3,000 elevated solar panels with active sheep grazing, clearly demonstrating a dual land-use model that contributes both to renewable energy production and sustainable agriculture. With a generation capacity of 2.27 MWp, the installation will supply green electricity to the quarry, with excess energy powering the equivalent of 225 households annually.
Beyond its energy output, the project integrates extensive environmental stewardship. A total of 600 meters of hedgerows have been planted to promote local biodiversity, creating natural habitats for pollinators, birds, and small wildlife.
The project’s goals align with Wallonia’s environmental and energy objectives. It contributes to carbon reduction, with an estimated 2,000 tons of CO₂ avoided each year. It also provides economic benefits to local farmers, preserving their activities while offering an additional income stream.
Importantly, the entire infrastructure is designed to be reversible and spans a 30-year lifecycle. This ensures that the land can be fully restored to its original state if needed, reinforcing the commitment to land conservation.
Another groundbreaking element is the planned creation of a Renewable Energy Community (CER). This initiative will allow local citizens and businesses to access clean electricity produced on-site at favourable rates, empowering the community with energy autonomy as well as economic benefits.
The visit by SolarPower Europe underlined the growing recognition of agrisolar as a key pillar in Europe’s transition to clean renewable energy. With initiatives like this leading the way, Belgium is well-positioned to shine bright as a beacon of sustainable innovation. Thanks to both Ether Energy and Calcaires de Florennes for providing us with this insightful and inspiring tour of a successful Agri-PV project in the Belgium countryside.
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