The Verdonnet agrivoltaics project
The Key infos
The agrivoltaics project :
- Location: Verdonnet, Côte-d'Or
- SAU of the farm: 648 ha
- Project size: 3ha + 3ha sample
- Agricultural production: Organic field crops (Wheat, feverola, barley, etc.)
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We took our worst plot to see if we could increase its value, through rent of course, but especially by improving yields, I hope. The soil is very light, superficial. We're going to keep our regular rotations. We sowed wheat in October. We plan to follow with alfalfa, spring barley and lentils. We will even experiment with sunflowers, which are usually not suitable for this type of soil, to measure the effect of the canopy.
Jean-François Cortot, farm operator in Verdonnet
The scores of our demonstrators
-35%
-35% average potential evapotranspiration (Verdonnet, 2025)
-1°C
A reduced temperature range of approximately 1°C over 24 hours on average throughout the year
+18%
+18% yield compared to the non-piloted area (Verdonnet, 2025)
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Similar annual yields under the agrivoltaic solution and on the control plot, with better resilience in dry conditions (Souleuvre-en-Bocage, 2024-2025)
-7°C
Up to -7°C under agricultural canopy during a recorded heat peak (Amance and Brouchy, 2025)
-1.4°C on average on the hottest days
+2°C on the coldest nights
