AGROTECHVOLTAICO Operational Group: Improving wine production through symbiosis with smart agrovoltaics
- Type Operational group
- Status In progress
- Execution 2024 -2027
- Assigned Budget 672.807,00 €
- Scope Supraautonómico
- Autonomous community Castilla y León; Comunitat Valenciana
- Main source of financing PEPAC 2023-2027
Agrovoltaics has the potential to save traditional crops from the effects of climate change, such as rising temperatures or drought. Photovoltaic panels can be oriented to provide shading as needed, ensuring crop well-being and maximising production and quality while generating electricity. To do this, intelligent algorithms are needed that are fed with parameters representative of the physiological state of the plants. The main results of the project will be: Obtaining high-quality wines in terms of phenolic content, which is achieved by providing an appropriate environment for each strain through the shading generated by the panels. Electricity production. The algorithm will also take into account solar irradiance data for energy production. Reduction of inputs. In some cases, farmers are resorting to irrigating strains to maintain quality, which can be avoided with adequate shading. All of this can be achieved by implementing agrovoltaic systems fed by climate and crop data.
The expected findings for the project are: - Obtaining a phenological model for Tempranillo and Albariño vines in different climatic zones - Obtaining intelligent algorithms capable of adapting the position of solar panels based on the phenological parameters of the vines - Validation of an agrovoltaic system capable of adapting the position of the panels in such a way as to maximize the productivity and quality of the wine, obtaining photovoltaic renewable energy without compromising crop surfaces
The following activities will be carried out in the project:
- The first activity is defining requirements. The goal is to obtain the climatic data that will allow for the correct design of the models, as well as to determine the phenological parameters to be monitored and decide on the plots where the facilities will be located. Ultimately, the project skeleton is defined.
- The second activity seeks to design the agrovoltaic installation, both in terms of structure and panels, as well as sensors, in order to proceed with its assembly and testing.
- In the third activity, models of vine phenological cycles will be designed and developed by characterizing different parameters during the plant's vegative and reproductive seasons.
- The fourth activity focuses on developing a methodology for monitoring the physiological variables of the vineyard, which will allow for the evaluation of the proper functioning of the smart agrivoltaic system.
- The fifth activity will analyze vine growth based on physiological parameters, such as budding, flowering, veraison, as well as various more technical parameters. This will allow the plate control algorithm to be correctly inputted.
- The sixth activity will focus on the agrovoltaic system model of the facility, creating a computational model of the facility and processing and analyzing the collected data, ultimately validating the work performed.
The current climate context entails long-term changes in both temperature and weather patterns, including droughts. It also includes rising winter temperatures, low-rainfall springs, and sweltering summers. All of these conditions place significant pressure on agricultural systems, forcing farmers to increase inputs or switch to more profitable crops.
This applies to grape cultivation and wine production. Although grapes are typically dryland plants, they require a certain level of humidity to achieve maximum production, as well as a dormant period to begin the production cycle. Furthermore, grapes require a strict temperature range and sunlight to ripen properly and develop the polyphenolic substances responsible for the characteristic flavors and colors of this fruit.
Climate change strongly affects these stages, disconnecting technological ripening (sugar content) from phenological ripening (polyphenol content), and creating a huge problem for winemakers, who receive grapes with enormous sugar content but poor quality, resulting in wines with dramatically low flavor content and problems related to volatile acidity and critically unsuitable microbiological instability for winemaking. Therefore, it is essential to find a solution to this problem. Agrivoltaics is an attractive solution, as it provides the necessary conditions for vines and enables energy production.
The project addresses the research, development, and validation of a solution based on intelligent agrovoltaics, powered by the phenological state of the vines, to provide the necessary shading to the plants, maximizing wine production while simultaneously producing photovoltaic energy through sensors and intelligent algorithms capable of modeling the phenological state of the plant, reducing irrigation requirements and coordinating technical and phenological maturation to ensure wine quality.
The main results of the project will be:
- Obtaining high-quality wines in terms of phenolic content is achieved by providing an appropriate environment for each strain through the shading generated by the panels.
- Electricity production.
- The algorithm will also take into account solar irradiance data for energy production.
- Reduction of inputs.
In some cases, farmers are resorting to irrigating vines to maintain quality, which can be avoided with proper shading. All of this can be achieved through the implementation of agrivoltaic systems powered by climate and crop data.
- Coordinator/entity name: Basque Country Energy Cluster Association
- Postal address: CALLE SAN VICENTE NUM 8 Floor 4 Pta. BD Complem. EDF.ALBIA II 48001 BILBAO (BIZKAIA)
- Coordinator/entity email: bmolinete@clusterenergia.com
- Telephone: 944240211
- Asociación Cluster de Energía del País Vasco
- Asociación Cluster de Energía del País Vasco
- POWERFULTREE S.L.
- BODEGA SAN GABRIEL - COLEGIO SEMINARIO SAN GABRIEL
- CASA SICILIA S.L.
- SOLAR360 DE REPSOL Y MOVISTAR S.L
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