Harnessing the vast potential of RES for sustainable farming

Project Information

HarvRESt

Grant agreement ID: 101136904

DOI

10.3030/101136904

EC signature date 6 December 2023

Start date 1 January 2024

End date 31 December 2026

Funded under

• Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Total cost

€ 4 998 685,00

EU contribution

€ 4 998 684,50

Coordinated by

FUNDACION CIRCE CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION DE RECURSOS Y CONSUMOS ENERGETICOS
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - HarvRESt (Harnessing the vast potential of RES for sustainable farming)

Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

HarvRESt project emerges from the pressing challenge of land use competition between the energy and agriculture sectors, a conflict heightened by the EU’s decarbonisation and climate neutrality goals. As the agriculture sector faces mounting pressure to reduce emissions while sustaining productivity and biodiversity, the potential for integrating Renewable Energy Sources (RES) directly into farms presents an untapped opportunity for systemic transformation.

Currently, there is a lack of tailored solutions that consider the complex interplay of technical, economic, social, and environmental dimensions involved in RES uptake on farms. Most initiatives fail to holistically support decision-making or reflect the actual needs and perceptions of farmers and rural communities. Moreover, knowledge is fragmented across disciplines and geographies, limiting its applicability and scalability.

HarvRESt is funded under the Horizon Europe programme (HORIZON-CL6-2023-CLIMATE-01) and aligns with EU strategic frameworks such as the Green Deal, the Farm to Fork Strategy, and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Its activities contribute to strengthening the Water-Energy-Food Nexus, advancing the energy transition in the agricultural sector while safeguarding food security and rural livelihoods.

Many existing initiatives fail to consider the complex realities of farming communities or provide tailored, data-driven decision support. HarvRESt fills this gap by developing an Agricultural Virtual Power Plant (AVPP) and a Decision Support System (DSS) based on Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), offering farmers and policymakers actionable insights.

HarvRESt will (1) map current practices and barriers to RES integration across Europe, (2) engage farmers and stakeholders through co-creation and capacity-building, (3) develop tools for scenario modelling and optimal RES deployment, (4) demonstrate solutions in four diverse use cases across Spain, Italy, Denmark, and Norway and (5) deliver policy and business model recommendations to support replication and scale-up.

HarvRESt aims to decarbonise the agricultural sector, empower rural communities, and influence EU policy. By combining technical innovation with social engagement, the project will enable smarter energy choices at the farm level and foster a sustainable, resilient agricultural system across Europe.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Empowering farmers through business models and engagement: 1. Stakeholder mapping and creation of 5 regional working groups for each Use Case. 2. Organization of warm-up events involving 120+ stakeholders to gauge needs and concerns. 3. Financial schemes and risk analysis (78 financial mechanisms identified, with regional breakdowns). 4. Design of modular capacity building programmes with five thematic modules (technical, policy, sustainability, business, engagement).

Identifying trade-off mitigation practices: 1. Developed best practice catalogue from EU and global initiatives on RES-agriculture integration. 2. Launched experimental trials (e.g. agrivoltaics in Spain, electric machinery testing, digestate as fertilizer in field-scale plots). 3. Definition of 53 KPIs across five sustainability domains (agricultural, economic, energy, environmental, social). 4. Began use of CWA 17898:2022 methodology for soil impact assessment.

Analysis of RES deployment alternatives: 1. Established technical foundation for AVPP, including model selection (e.g. PVLib, PASE). 2. Development of a RES technologies library, incorporating agronomic and energy modules. 3. Configuration of hybrid RES models based on Use Case data (e.g. solar + irrigation dynamics).

Decision Support Tools (DSS) development: 1. Created a traceability matrix linking KPIs to Use Cases and enabling performance tracking. 2. Prepared methodology for Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to be applied in period 2. 3. Interconnected data from technical, agronomic, and social layers for future DSS integration.

Data-driven multi-actor co-design and validation: 1. Conducted contextual analysis (regulatory, technical, socio-economic) in each Use Case. 2. Executed field characterization and system configurations tailored to regional contexts. 3. Implemented initial field trials (e.g. digestate application protocols, performance of electric tractors and robots). 4. Gathered data for simulation and modelling, laying groundwork for technical validation of co-benefits.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

1. Foundations for farm decarbonisation: Over 50 best practices and technical RES configurations (solar, wind, biogas, hydro) mapped, with five diverse Use Cases characterised and regional stakeholder engagement launched. This shows the feasibility of tailored RES strategies in real farms, builds a replicable EU knowledge base, and promotes the transition to energy-autonomous, resilient agriculture.

2. Sustainability KPIs & monitoring: Defined 53 KPIs across five dimensions plus a traceability matrix and conflict mapping tool, enabling evidence-based RES decisions at farm level and providing a standardized, flexible evaluation framework for EU projects and policies.

3. RES–Agriculture synergies: Agrivoltaic trials cut irrigation needs by ~30%, digestate fertilisation supports soil health and reduces synthetic fertilisers, and early e-machinery tests show lower emissions and costs. These demonstrations validate circular bioeconomy approaches, unlock new value chains, and build farmer confidence.

4. Data-driven tools & models: Developed AI forecasting algorithms for RES production, a Danish biogas tool for GHG and biomass assessments, and an open-source RES library. These tools support farm and regional energy planning, hybrid system optimisation, and emissions reduction.

5. Finance & risk mapping: Catalogue of 78 financial instruments and risk typologies compiled, highlighting barriers (e.g. admin burden, fragmented incentives). Provides farmers and investors with decision tools to access financing and mitigate risks.

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