APV pilot project over a vineryard in CIFP San Gabriel

By project EAGER

Published on 14 March 2025

Spain

Castilla y León

Aranda de Duero

About this good practice

The increase in global temperature is modifying the climatological conditions of winegrowing areas, changing the growth and development patterns of the plant, affecting the production and quality of the grapes and, consequently, of the wine. The introduction of solar panels in vine growing fields has a dual function, on the one hand to produce energy and on the other to provide shade for the plants, protecting them from excessive irradiation and high temperatures.
Current technology makes it possible to automate the photovoltaic installation and to program the movement of the solar panels based on the need for shading of the vines, which is the main objective of the study. In the experimental project CIFP San Gabriel, an installation has been made on an elevated structure to allow the normal development of the plant and the access of the usual machinery for the management of the crop.
The main stakeholders in the development of this project are a startup company specialized in APV (Powerfultree), wine growers and winemakers (CIFP San Gabriel), as well as an energy company (Repsol). However, since viticulture is an activity of great economic and social importance in the region, the public administration -such as the town hall and the provincial council-, has participated in the project by disseminating the project. Aditionally, the national government is financing two larger projects base on this prototype.

Resources needed

The installation is a pilot project with a small production capacity (26 kW of power) that is remotely controlled, but needed a high degree of customization and cutting-edge technology. Adding up to a total investment of approximately 200,000 euros.

Evidence of success

Because it has succeeded in being the first facility where a solar energy generation system is tested on a vineyard, benefiting the vineyard to improve grape and wine quality, thanks to the shading of the plants, the harvest has been delayed by up to 8 days. Due to the importance of the crop, it can be widely replicated, even two installations more -based on this prototype- are planned to be built in the coming months with funding from the national government.

Potential for learning or transfer

This agrivoltaic experiment, which involves placing solar panels on a structure elevated above a vineyard to provide shade for the plants, is truly necessary to understand how to protect the crop from the effects of climate change. The data collected will allow for the establishment of guidelines to program the operation of the panels automatically. This will result in action schedules, identifying periods in the crop cycle where shade is needed, with precision even down to the specific time of day.
Due to the importance of a crop like the vine at a national level, the development of this type of experience will provide security to the sector and facilitate the acceptance of APV project development to take advantage of the vast area where vineyards are located.