SOLARWINE Operational Group: New agrovoltaic systems for smart and sustainable grape production

Existing natural resources are limited and conventional production has serious environmental consequences to feed the growing world population. Therefore, production systems must be based on sustainability, seeking alternative production systems, reducing the use of inputs such as phytosanitary products and synthetic fertilizers, or improving crop yields. This project proposes the use of agrovoltaic systems, focusing on the implementation and verification in a real environment of a production system for vineyards as a context of digital agriculture, improving the sustainability of the agricultural environment, producing the final wines in a more efficient and environmentally friendly way by proposing innovative systems that attract the youngest sector of the population. It will be focused on companies in the wine sector, especially innovative SMEs and technology centers, universities or research groups.

The project will be based on an interactive innovation model to test the real potential of applying agrovoltaic systems in a vitally important crop in Spain, such as the vineyard, and possible microclimatic alterations and impacts resulting from combining this type of technology with grape production will be tested. Through the combined production of energy and vineyard, agrovoltaic technology is expected to increase vineyard productivity significantly. The combination of photovoltaic energy and plant production (agrovoltaic system) is suggested as an opportunity for combining renewable energy and food production. The use of such systems as a measure to mitigate climate change will be investigated, providing food and energy to rural and urban populations. As a result, it is intended to create social awareness about the importance of implementing strategies linked to sustainability and awareness of the effects of Climate Change.