Solar panels cover Bordeaux vines

2,000 m2 block of Merlot vines in Villenave d’Ornon, Gironde, has been chosen to install 253 double-faced, swivel photovoltaic panels for demonstration purposes. The Vitisolar panels were officially presented on September 19. “The aim is to study the impact of agrivoltaics on vines over the long term and on the environment, and to combine vine protection with the production of sustainable energy”, explained Martin Leÿs, EDF Regional Action director for New Aquitaine.

Over a five-year period, Vitisolar will be able to study and demonstrate the compatibility of the photovoltaic structure, producing electricity with vines, to examine the benefits of a structure sheltering vines in the event of adverse weather or during droughts, and also to study the health of the vines, in terms of water requirements and disease. After five years, the structure – which can be dismantled – may be kept by INRAE.

The overall cost totals around €2.7 million. In addition to the impact of the solar panels on vines, the quality of the crop, yields and biodiversity, there are also social and economic issues. The question is, will winegrowers who commit to installing agrivoltaics be able to supplement their income with the panels or only be able to benefit from a structure that protects their vines against hazardous weather? “We want to combine the two scenarios, providing protection, self-supply and the sale of electric”, stresses Axel Becker, the head of Solar Department New Technologies at EDF Renewables.