In one of the first studies of its kind in Australia, scientists are protecting grapes from extreme weather by putting solar panels in vineyards, to see how it will affect the quality of the product.
Key points:
- It is hoped vitivoltaic technology can help protect vines and cut costs at wineries
- The technology is already in use in Japan, Germany and France
- There is a call for research into how Australian crops and solar panels can share prime agricultural land
University of Adelaide researchers are doing an on-campus trial of vitivoltaic technology, which has already been put into use overseas but is yet to be adopted in Australia.
Associate professor Cassandra Collins said the research would help to determine whether there were any impacts on grape quality.
“We want to look at whether those solar panels can actually protect the vine during periods of high heat load, potentially even things like wind and frost and other elements,” she said.
“Solar panels may be a way to actually offer them a little bit of protection from those adverse weather conditions.
“That may lead to better quality from the fruit we’re harvesting from those vines.”
The pilot study at Waite Campus will also examine any potential detrimental effects, such as shade created by the panels during different times of the day and season.
“Grapevines, as well as many other crops, are very reliant on light levels and so shade can be an issue,” Dr Collins said.
“At the same time, we have quite extreme heat load during the summer months and the way that these solar panels potentially could work is that we can buffer some of that.
“That could lead to better colour development, more positive flavour and aroma attributes in the fruit.
“One of the benefits of doing this here in Australia is that we do already have those extreme weather events that we can really test this and see what benefits might arise.”
Farming food and power
Solar panels have already been tested on Australian farms, but renewables energy consultant Karin Stark believes more research is needed into agrivoltaic technology.
She said there were examples in Australia of sheep grazing under solar arrays, but placing panels over horticultural crops was relatively new.
“There’s one example on the Tatura research farm in Victoria of solar panels over an orchard, but we haven’t got any other examples, unfortunately,” Ms Stark said.
“That research is desperately needed to open up that opportunity for farmers.
“There’s countries like Japan who grow 120 different crops under solar panels, and that’s everything from leafy greens to rice, veggies, flowers, and places like Germany and France also put solar panels over vineyards and various orchards.”
Ms Stark said improved soil moisture had been noted in overseas crops, which also received some protection from frost.
But she said research into the application of the technology in the Australian climate needed to be funded.
“We’re going to see a pretty massive increase in the number of solar farms in regional Australia and, as you know, there’s more and more angst in the regions over land-use conflict,” Ms Stark said.
“There’s a way to … combine agriculture and farming in really positive, beneficial ways if they’re planned and designed together.
“It’s really about reimagining the role of farmers as both producers of both food and power.”
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