- Sun’Agri, a French agrivoltaics specialist, has shared the results of its 2024 harvests at two pilot agrivoltaic sites in southern France.
- The sites in Domaine de Nidolères in the Pyrénées Orientales tested three grape varieties.
The results showed that grape yields under solar panels were 20% to 60% higher than in areas without PV. The highest increase, 60%, was seen in Chardonnay grapes, followed by Marselan (30%) and Grenache blanc (20%).
In a second trial in Vaucluse, southeastern France, the yield increase remained over 30%, with or without irrigation.
Sun’Agri attributed the gains to the agrivoltaic system’s ability to optimize the microclimate, moderating temperatures, increasing humidity, and reducing irrigation needs by 20% to 70%.
It said it also helps protect against frost, preventing temperature drops of up to 2 C. As a result, plants’ survival rates improve, with mortality reduced by 25% to 50%.
In addition, grapes grown under the panels produce wine with 1.5% less alcohol, preserving acidity in white wines and enhancing the aroma profile.
Author: Gwénaëlle Deboutte
This article was originally published in pv magazine and is republished with permission.
