The field of agricultural photovoltaic (agrivoltaic) mounting structures is seeing rapid progress. With land resources becoming increasingly scarce and policy thresholds for agrivoltaic projects rising, innovative mounting structures—especially flexible (cable-suspended) systems—are moving from pilot projects to large-scale application. Technology iteration and industry pain points are intertwined, marking a critical phase for agrivoltaic synergy.

I. Major projects advance: flexible mounting structures become standard for agrivoltaics

In January, several large-scale projects using agrivoltaic mounting systems entered substantial construction phases.

In Shuangbai County, Chuxiong Prefecture, Yunnan Province, the 250 MW Baijiacun photovoltaic project moved into the module installation stage. The project covers a total land area of 5,905.43 mu (approx. 394 hectares) and consists of 90 PV arrays. It innovatively combines fixed and flexible mounting structures – with a DC side total installed capacity of approximately 321 MW, including 200 MW of flexible structures and 121 MW of fixed structures. In the core agrivoltaic areas, the minimum clearance of PV modules is 3 meters above ground, leaving sufficient space underneath for agricultural production, achieving dual land use. The project also plans to build 7.54 mu (approx. 0.5 hectares) of greenhouse area, including three intelligent film greenhouses for cultivating seedling of Tainong passion fruit, as well as Chinese medicinal herbs such as purple gromwell, tiger stick (a local name for certain herbs), and angelica sinensis.

Around the same time, the Guoneng Changwu agrivoltaic project issued a tender announcement for the construction of flexible mounting structures, marking the start of another large agrivoltaic project using flexible systems. In Anxiang County, near Dongting Lake, the Chenjiazui 220 MW "fishery-PV hybrid" project, undertaken by Jiangxi Hydropower, continued steady progress in early January. The project is built entirely on 6,400 mu (approx. 427 hectares) of fishponds, using a cable-supported flexible mounting system. The structures are designed with a minimum clearance of 3 meters and a large span of 40.6 meters, ensuring that fish farming, harvesting, and other operations are not affected.

II. Technology iteration accelerates: precise adaptation to agrivoltaic scenarios

Project updates in January show that agrivoltaic mounting technology is evolving toward greater refinement and scenario-specific solutions. Different terrains and crop requirements are driving diverse mounting solutions.

For orchard scenarios, the 135 MW Mosa agri-forestry-PV hybrid project in Yunnan continued construction in January. The project uses a Z-type flexible PV mounting system. To accommodate vehicle access roads within the orchard, the structure is raised to different heights – 4 meters of clearance above roads and 2.5 meters above non-road areas. During construction, a "minimally invasive" approach was adopted: pile foundation work was done manually with small equipment for drilling, concrete was transported by manual labor assisted with drones, and all mounting structure and module materials were lifted by drones from storage to installation points, maximizing protection of the fruit trees' root systems. The project covers 3,200 mu (approx. 213 hectares) and at its peak deployed over 2,000 construction workers, completing all 76 MW of flexible structure sections in just over 70 days.

For fishery scenarios, fishery-PV hybrid projects impose strict requirements on span and clearance. Multiple projects advancing in January adopted flexible mounting designs with a minimum clearance of 3 meters and large spans of over 30 meters, ensuring that fish lighting requirements are met while achieving efficient space reuse.

III. New regulations take effect: higher barriers for agrivoltaic mounting structures

The policy environment for agrivoltaic projects became more stringent. The Guangdong Provincial Energy Bureau made it clear that as of May , agrivoltaic and fishery-PV hybrid projects are no longer allowed to connect to the grid under the "distributed PV" designation; they must follow centralized project approval procedures. Provincial implementation rules in Guangdong also require that the annual self-consumption ratio of agricultural building (structure) projects shall not be less than 30%.

Meanwhile, local governments are imposing higher requirements on land use efficiency for agrivoltaic projects. One provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs explicitly required that the proportion of non-agricultural usable area be less than 10%, pushing PV hybrid projects to further improve land use efficiency. In this context, flexible mounting structures – with their high clearance and large spans – can reduce the non-agricultural usable area ratio to as low as 0.59% and increase panel capacity by about 30% under the same topographic conditions. The tender volume for flexible mounting structures in 2025 increased by 128% year-on-year compared to 2024, mainly for agrivoltaic and fishery-PV hybrid projects – a trend that continued into early 2026.

IV. Problems and challenges: fishery-PV synergy remains a tough issue

In January, industry voices highlighted deeper problems in agrivoltaic projects. During the Jiangsu Provincial Two Sessions (the annual meetings of the provincial People's Congress and Political Consultative Conference), Provincial CPPCC member Zhong Xiaoxian pointed out through special research that several prominent issues exist in the implementation of "fishery-PV hybrid" projects:

Emphasis on PV over fishery – due to PV panels being installed too low or with too narrow spacing, actual aquaculture water surface is reduced. The yield of major fish species and crabs has dropped significantly compared to traditional farming, with overall economic benefits shrinking by about 70%.

Weak regulatory coordination – from project planning to operation, effective participation by fishery authorities is lacking. Tailwater purification facilities are generally absent, posing risks of pollution discharge.

Inadequate interest coordination mechanisms – fish farmers are reluctant to participate.

Zhong suggested strengthening project planning and supervision, establishing special funds for government‑industry‑academia collaboration to develop new aquatic species suitable for fishery-PV models and intelligent aquaculture equipment, and introducing preferential policies to encourage PV companies to support the fishery sector.