Towards a More Sustainable Viticulture

Integration of Solar Photovoltaic Projects in Vineyards of Argentina, Chile, and South Africa

Abstract

Grapevines in Argentina, Chile and South Africa are grown under high levels of solar radiation. The availability of this resource is an opportunity to implement agrivoltaics as a practice for climate change mitigation. This study was conducted during 2020-2021 to: i) compare the legal framework in these countries to promote photovoltaic (PV) technology, ii) analyze the integration of PV technology with viticulture, and iii) evaluate its social acceptance. To analyze the regulatory framework, national and regional laws to promote the integration of PV technology with viticulture were evaluated. The PV technology and viticulture practices adopted were evaluated through a survey in ten vineyards located in Argentina, Chile, and South Africa. Social acceptance of PV integration with viticulture was evaluated in a participative process. The main facilitators common to the three countries are the availability of the solar resource, the scenario of legislative transformation related to the production of renewable energies, and the reduction of production costs in the long term for wine companies. Although there have been advances in the regulatory frameworks, especially in Chile and Argentina, agrivoltaics is still not mentioned. This, coupled with limited local experience of agrivoltaics in vineyards, limits communication of the potential benefits in grape, wine, and energy production.