Synergistic benefits of agrivoltaics for grape production and solar energy efficiency in a Mediterranean vineyard

Societal Impact Statement: Grapevine production is increasingly challenged by global warming, with global wine output falling to a six-decade low in 2024. At the same time, the vine and wine sector faces growing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint. Agrivoltaics, which integrates solar photovoltaic (PV) modules into plant production systems, offers a potential pathway to address both challenges by enabling on-farm renewable energy generation while moderating vine microclimates. We examined whether agrivoltaics can enhance grapevine and energy performance under Mediterranean conditions. Our findings show improved berry quality without yield loss alongside increased PV efficiency, demonstrating the potential for agrivoltaics in viticultural systems.