Agrivoltaic: chances preparing Riesling towards a better climate resilience

Abstract

Agrivoltaics (AV), the innovative dual-use of land for agriculture and photovoltaic energy production on the same land, offers a promising solution to the challenges of expanding renewable energy without compromising valuable agricultural land. Climate change has brought many challenges not just for viticulture but for the whole agricultural sector with issues such as late frost, excessive heat, intense solar radiation, unpredictable precipitation patterns including hail damage and drought. These climate stressors can accelerate phenology, grape ripening, alter aromatic profiles, and lead to higher alcohol content with reduced acidity in wines. There is an urgent need to explore mitigation strategies, whereas AV can serve as a promising solution with multiple synergies. To explore this potential, the VitiVoltaic research platform, established at Hochschule Geisenheim University, focuses on integrating AV technology within a Riesling vineyard to assess its capacity for mitigating climate change impacts on grapevines while simultaneously producing solar energy. The project specifically targets challenges such as water scarcity, extreme heat, and threats to crop quality due to increasing temperatures. The VitiVoltaic research facility is built on a 0.3-hectare Riesling vineyard in the Rheingau Valley. Semi-transparent, sun-tracking photovoltaic modules cover half of the vineyard whereas the other half serves as a control, designed to provide moderate shading, while maintaining the accesability for vineyard machinery. Equipped with sensors, the VitiVoltaic platform monitors microclimatic factors such as air temperature, humidity, soil moisture, and solar radiation, allowing for in-depth analysis of the AV’s overall effects on grapevines. Initial observations show that the AV structure effectively lowers peak air temperatures, conserves soil moisture, and reduces the percentage of sunburn incidence, thereby supporting crop health and resilience. The alterations in microclimate may lead to slower ripening rates and preservation of acidity, ultimately potentially improving grape and wine quality under controlled shading conditions.