They improve wine quality

The agrevoltaic I was already gaining ground as THE GREAT PROMISE OF THE FIELD and renewable energy. What we did not know was that it can also improve wine.

Short. The Svolta, a winery in the Italian region of Puglia, has discovered that integrating agrevoltaic systems into the vineyards can mitigate some of the effects of climate change, delay the maturation of grapes and Improve wine quality.

In addition, it has allowed them to cultivate grape varieties that are not typical of the region, not to mention the economic and environmental benefits when saving water and producing solar energy in the same land where the vine is cultivated.

A huge agreglyst installation. The project is called AGRIVOLTAIC VIGNA DI COMMUNITà and has 7,770 solar panels of thin double -union film. Among all, they add up to 970 kW output power.

Solar panels are oriented south at an angle of 28 degrees. They rest on a concrete structure, inspired by the typical pergola of the Italian vineyards. The vine grows below, protected from wind and heat waves.

The secret is in the shadow. The shadow projecting the solar panels has been delaying the harvest of the Svolta of three to four weeks, with respect to the surrounding vineyards. Both for the white grape and for the ink grapes.

Last year, the Agrivoltaic Vigna Di Community completed the harvest at the end of August, weeks after other vineyards did.

How it affects the quality of wine. The lower exposure to the sun slows the accumulation of sugars in the grapes, which improves the balance between the alcoholic degree and the acidity in fermentation. According to the SVOLTA, this allows to elaborate high quality wines without the need for corrective interventions.

The agrivoltaic system improved the water stress of the plants, protected the meteorological excess grapes and reduced the wind speed in half, compared to the open field. The winery did technical studies that show a reduction in water consumption for irrigation of up to 20% and an increase in land performance between 20% and 60%.

Experimentation continues. The Svolta has cultivated more than 30 varieties of vine, mainly native to Puglia. In April, The winery presented Primitive wines, Falanghina and Traminer, among which a foamy white grapes highlighted, for which the agrivoltaic system has been particularly beneficial.

A version of this article was published in 2024

Image | AGRIVOLTAIC VIGN DI COMMUNITà.

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