Agrivoltaics in France increases wine production

In its article, TCD highlights that the concept of agrivoltaics is gaining traction as a promising solution to both energy and agricultural challenges. 

Solar panels generate clean, renewable energy without producing harmful emissions, which is why we can expect to see more of them in the future. However, one challenge they present is the large amount of space they require.

Fortunately, the emerging field of agrivoltaics is turning this challenge into an opportunity. As demonstrated by a recent agrivoltaics pilot program in France, this innovative approach integrates solar panels with agriculture, as reported by PV Magazine.

Agrivoltaics involves using the shade created by solar panels to support farming activities. Instead of replacing farmland with solar installations, this method allows farmers to continue cultivating crops while also benefiting financially from leasing their land to solar energy companies.

One example is utilizing the shaded space beneath solar panels for sheep grazing, or cultivating crops that can grow well in indirect light.

In France, the experiment focused on growing grapes for winemaking. Sun'Agri, a French agrivoltaics company, initiated two pilot programs in the south of France, specifically in Domaine de Nidolères in Pyrénées-Orientales, in 2024. The results revealed that not only did the grapes thrive under the solar panels, but the experiment also led to increased yields.

The yield of Chardonnay grapes rose by 60 per cent, followed by a 30 per cent increase in Marselan and a 20 per cent boost in Grenache blanc.

Sun'Agri explained that cultivating grapes under the shade of solar panels helped optimize the growing process by regulating temperatures, boosting humidity, and reducing the need for irrigation. The panels also provided protection against frost.

An unexpected outcome of the experiment was that the wine produced had 1.5 per cent less alcohol content, which could be seen as either a benefit or a disadvantage, depending on one's viewpoint.

In the end, increasing both solar energy production and wine yields seems like a positive outcome for this pilot program. Ideally, the success of this experiment will inspire more farmers to adopt agrivoltaics, enabling them to make better use of their resources while contributing to the shift away from polluting energy sources.

By Naila Huseynova