\u201cVines are among the crops most affected by the effects of climate change so it is essential that they be at the heart of our experiments,\u201d a spokesperson from the Sun\u2019Agri subsidiary of French solar developer\u00a0Sun\u2019R, told\u00a0pv magazine. We\u2019ll drink to that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sun\u2019Agri has installed a\u00a0viticulture\u00a0agrivoltaic\u00a0system in the\u00a0Vaucluse\u00a0department of southeastern France in partnership with the local chamber of agriculture as part of the Sun\u2019Agri 3 program supported by the French\u00a0Environment and Energy Management Agency<\/a>\u00a0(Ademe).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plant was set up in the wine-growing area in Piolenc, in H\u00e9rault, as part of a program to test how agrivoltaics perform in specific crop cultures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOut of 1,000m\u00b2 of vines planted with [the] black grenache [red wine grape], 600m\u00b2 were covered by our dynamic agrivoltaic system,\u201d the Sun\u2019Agri spokesperson said. The 280 panels used have a generation capacity of 84 kW, were placed at a height of 4.2m and\u00a0can be moved in real time using an\u00a0artificial intelligence\u00a0(AI) algorithm the French agrivoltaic specialist has been developing for more than a decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The algorithm is said to be able to determine the ideal tilt of the panels according to the sunshine and water requirements of viticulture, growth model of the crop, soil quality and weather conditions. \u201cArtificial intelligence is programmed to favor the growth of the plant,\u201d said the Sun\u2019Agri representative. \u201cIn the event of extreme climatic hazards \u2013 drought, heatwave, hail, frost, heavy rain etc \u2013 the AI \u200b\u200bcontrols the panels to protect the crops.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initial results<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The PV structure made it possible for the vines sheltered by panels to avoid having their growth stunted during heatwaves, according to Sun\u2019Agri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Water demand was also reduced by 12-34% for the PV-sheltered vines thanks to a reduction in evapotranspiration \u2013 water evaporating through the soil, said the Sun\u2019Agri spokesperson. It has also been claimed the aromatic profile of the grape was improved in the agrivoltaic set-up, with 13% more anthocyanins \u2013 red pigments \u2013 and 9-14% more acidity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sun\u2019Agri 3 program is due to pass from its demonstration to a commercial phase in 2022 and also includes agrivoltaic projects linked to arboriculture, greenhouse gardening and arable crops across 15 installations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From: https:\/\/www.pv-magazine.com\/2020\/03\/31\/a-good-year-for-solar-agrivoltaics-in-vineyards\/<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

French agricultural PV specialist Sun\u2019Agri has revealed the results of tests run on a solar plant integrated with viticulture. During heat waves, the company said, vines shaded by solar panels continued to grow and needed less water. \u201cVines are among the crops most affected by the effects of climate change so it is essential that…
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