Photovoltaic apiary full of honey

We share with you the "electric" honey from the Photovoltaic Farms of Polenergia Group in Sulechów. It is the third year of operation of our apiary and another honey harvest. The apiary consists of ten hives. Each bee colony consists of as many as 50,000 bees, which collect nectar and pollen from the flowers growing on the farms and from other honey plants in the area.

Sulechów apiary has become a fixed part of the history of Polenergia solar plants. Just a few months after the first 8 MWp Sulechów I Photovoltaic Farms were put into operation, our bees appeared on their premises. In only three years, Sulechów Municipality has become a true photovoltaic valley of the Group. The area of our farms has grown from 16 to 61 hectares and the capacity of all stations has increased to 30 MWp. The expected annual generation of clean electricity from the sun in Sulechów will amount to approximately 32 GWh, which corresponds to the electricity needs of 16,000 households and thus allows to avoid the emission of as much as 27,000 tonnes of harmful greenhouse gases per year. The life of the station is estimated to be up to 30 years, while the cumulative electricity generation will be around 860 GWh.

In 2022, we sowed a farm area of 50 ha with a honey mixture of wildflower and grazing meadow seeds. In addition, we sowed honey clover and phacelia. Due to such land use diversification there are many more species in the habitat. This way Polenergia not only generates green energy, but also contributes to the creation of a multi-hectare area that enhances local biodiversity and provides a food base for wild pollinators. Our farm is also a refuge and a breeding ground for many species of birds and mammals, including strictly protected species. Our meadow flowers, shrubs and trees provide a massive amount of food for our bees.

Supporting insect pollinators has a positive impact on the environment and guarantees global food security. Bees and insect pollinators are extremely important for our environment. Pollinator populations have been declining rapidly in recent decades due to habitat loss, agricultural intensification and the use of chemical pesticides, as well as climate change. The decline in the number of pollinators is causing a decline in agricultural production and creating the risk of reduced food supplies.

Not only do we have an apiary on our farms, but we also support other insect species. The mounds made of stones and clay provide an excellent place for bumblebees and other soil-dwelling insects to thrive. In addition, we will set up eight insect houses on the farms, which provide a place for development of other insect pollinators.

Beekeeping can also be an important source of income for residents of non-urbanised areas. We support the development of local entrepreneurship, which is why our apiary is run by a beekeeper living in close proximity to the farms in Sulechów, who develops his beekeeping operations.

Photovoltaic apiary full of honey

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