Next2Sun - Vertical bifacial photovoltaic systems for maximum energy yield and efficient land use

Dillingen, Germany · Austria · Polonia . Japan · 2018 · Next2Sun AG — headquartered in Dillingen, Germany, inventor and market and technology leader in vertical bifacial photovoltaics.

Next2Sun has moved well beyond pilot phase: it is a commercially active company with operational projects across multiple European countries and an expanding international footprint. Its most visible milestone is the commissioning in October 2025 of the world’s largest vertical PV plant at Frankfurt Airport (17.4 MWp), which demonstrated the viability of vertical bifacial technology at utility scale on highly constrained, ecologically sensitive land. Agricultural impact is documented at multiple sites. The Löffingen park (Germany) combines spelt, oats, and buckwheat cultivation with solar generation, with agricultural use beginning at end of 2024. The Aasen site has been running with combined grassland/arable use since 2020. In both cases, the agricultural productivity of the land has been maintained alongside energy generation, validating the agrivoltaic claim beyond marketing. Policy and grid relevance: Next2Sun’s research has shown that up to 20 GW of economically viable PV capacity exists in Germany at grid connection points where vertical generation profiles would not require additional grid infrastructure. This positions the technology as a strategic tool for accelerating energy transition without triggering costly grid upgrades. International expansion is underway:, India (AgriVIjay & Wattkraft, 100–500 kWp pilots, 2024–2025), Japan (3 MW installed). A new utility-scale mounting system (Fields2Sun Max) was launched in June 2026, signaling a move towards even larger installations.

Highlight

The inventor of vertical bifacial photovoltaics (PV) — now operating the world’s largest vertical solar plant (17.4 MWp, Frankfurt Airport, 2025) — proving that dual-use agrivoltaics and grid-friendly solar generation can coexist at utility scale.

Extended description

• Context and problem: Conventional ground-mounted PV systems are oriented southward and concentrate their generation around midday. This leads to well-documented grid saturation at noon, curtailment losses, and social friction over land occupation — as solar farms are perceived as incompatible with agricultural use and natural landscapes.

• How it works: Next2Sun’s system places bifacial modules vertically, ideally aligned east-west. The front face captures morning solar radiation; the rear face captures afternoon light (and reflected radiation from the ground). The result is a generation profile that is flatter and counter-cyclical relative to conventional PV: production peaks are shifted to 7–9 AM and 4–6 PM, precisely when the grid needs electricity most. Because modules are vertical, they cast a narrow shadow and leave wide agricultural corridors (typically 8–15 meters between rows) where crops, pasture, and biodiversity can thrive unimpeded. This unique dual-use approach enables simultaneous agricultural production and renewable energy generation, a concept known as agrivoltaics.

• Technologies and products: Next2Sun has developed two main product lines. Fields2Sun is the large-scale agri-PV system designed for open land, farmers, energy utilities, and project developers. It uses a patented steel racking system with pile-driven posts that can support up to three vertically stacked bifacial glass-glass modules, reaching heights of up to 4.5 m. Fence2Sun is the bifacial solar fence for residential, agricultural, and commercial perimeter uses, serving as both boundary infrastructure and power plant. In June 2026, Next2Sun launched Fields2Sun Max, a new mounting system specifically designed for utility-scale deployments.

• Operational logic and stakeholders: Next2Sun operates under multiple business models: as technology supplier, project developer, and operator. Farmers and landowners receive lease income for their land while retaining full agricultural use. Energy utilities and project developers access a grid-friendly generation profile and potential premium electricity pricing due to counter-cyclical output. Municipalities and public infrastructure operators (such as airports) benefit from a low ecological footprint and landscape integration.

• Systemic implications: Beyond individual projects, Next2Sun has demonstrated that up to 20 GW of vertical PV is compatible with existing grid connection capacity in Germany without additional network expansion — a structural advantage in markets where grid congestion blocks conventional solar development. The Frankfurt Airport installation (October 2025, 17.4 MWp, 37,000 modules along 2,800 m of runway) became the world’s largest vertical PV plant and a proof point for utility-scale viability.

Demonstrated metrics

• Equal or up to 10% higher annual electricity yield per kWp compared to conventional south-facing ground-mounted systems (up to 1,200 kWh/kWp in Germany)

• 447 kg CO₂ saved per kWp installed per year (based on the 2022 electricity mix and average yield of 1,150 kWh/kWp)

• Ground coverage below 1% — ecologically valuable meadow areas are almost completely preserved

• Land use below 15% — agricultural corridors of 8–15 m between module rows allow full crop rotation

• Up to 15% additional revenue potential from counter-cyclical electricity sales on the spot market

• System lifetime: >25–30 years (standard bifacial glass-glass modules)

• Frankfurt Airport (Germany, Oct 2025): 37,000 modules, 17.4 MWp, 30.8 hectares, 2,800 m runway alignment — world’s largest vertical PV plant, generating up to 17.4 GWh/year

Real impact

Next2Sun has moved well beyond the pilot phase: it is a commercially active company with operational projects across multiple European countries and an expanding international footprint. Its most visible milestone is the commissioning in October 2025 of the world’s largest vertical PV plant at Frankfurt Airport (17.4 MWp), which demonstrated the viability of vertical bifacial technology at utility scale on highly constrained, ecologically sensitive land.

• Agricultural impact is documented at multiple sites. The Löffingen park (Germany) combines spelt, oats, and buckwheat cultivation with solar generation, with agricultural use beginning at the end of 2024. The Aasen site has been running with combined grassland/arable use since 2020. In both cases, the agricultural productivity of the land has been maintained alongside energy generation, validating the agrivoltaic claim beyond marketing.

• Policy and grid relevance: Next2Sun’s research has shown that up to 20 GW of economically viable PV capacity exists in Germany at grid connection points where vertical generation profiles would not require additional grid infrastructure. This positions the technology as a strategic tool for accelerating the energy transition without triggering costly grid upgrades.

• International expansion is underway: India (AgriVIjay & Wattkraft, 100–500 kWp pilots, 2024–2025), Japan (3 MW installed). A new utility-scale mounting system (Fields2Sun Max) was launched in June 2026, signaling a move towards even larger installations.

Implementation location & date

Germany (2018–2026):

• Dozens of operational vertical bifacial parks. Key references: Aasen/Donaueschingen (12 ha, 2020, EU’s largest vertical agri-PV at launch)

• Löffingen (4,800 MWh/year); Epfendorf (3,400 MWh/year); Merzig-Wellingen (5,300 kWp)

• Frankfurt Airport (17.4 MWp, Oct 2025, world’s largest).

Austria:

• Neudorf an der Mur (2,200 MWh/year)

Multiple solar fence installations.

• India: 100–500 kWp pilot projects with AgriVijay (2025-2026).

• Japan: 3 MW installed + projects in development (2025–2026).

Similar cases elsewhere

Sun’Agri (France): agrivoltaic system developer using tracking modules over fruit orchards and vineyards, commercially deployed since 2020 with documented yield compatibility. Soltech (Sweden): building-integrated bifacial PV solutions. BayWa r.e. (Germany/international): large-scale agrivoltaic project developer using elevated horizontal configurations. Fraunhofer ISE (Germany): research projects comparing vertical and inclined agri-PV configurations. In the Global South, agrivoltaic pilot programs exist in India (National Institute of Solar Energy), Kenya, and Chile, typically using elevated conventional modules rather than vertical bifacial technology.

Sources

• Next2Sun official website: https://next2sun.com/en/