Nestlé Biessenhofen plant integrates solar power with cattle farming

Nestlé Deutschland AG has inaugurated a new agri-photovoltaic (Agri-PV) plant at its nutrition production facility in Biessenhofen, Germany. This investment, part of the plant's drive towards more electrified and energy-efficient production processes, merges sustainable energy generation with agricultural practices.

The "Cow-PV" facility, realized in collaboration with farmer Gerhard Metz and renewable energy company BayWa r.e., is situated on a 4.74-hectare area and integrates electricity generation with agricultural land use. With an installed capacity of 4.5 megawatt peak, it is projected to cover approximately a quarter of the plant's electricity needs, equivalent to the annual consumption of 2,000 single-family homes.

The solar panels are mounted two meters high, providing shade and shelter for the heat-sensitive cows. This elevation also permits the operation of tractors and harvesting equipment, maintaining the land's agricultural utility. The generated solar power is used to drive the plant's modern heat pumps, which leverage process waste heat for heating, thereby reducing natural gas consumption and CO2 emissions.

Nestlé invested around 3 million euros in the project. Concurrently, farmer Metz constructed a new, modern barn adjacent to the Agri-PV area, equipped with automated milking technology. Initial testing of the Agri-PV plant has demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing the plant's electricity demand and enhancing animal welfare. These initiatives align with Nestlé's broader goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.