Bringing solar to agriculture: Design and analysis of a Concord grape agrivoltaic system
Combining agriculture and solar photovoltaics (PV) through agrivoltaics demonstrates potential to solve global food and energy challenges, but limited techno-economic analyses of agrivoltaic designs contribute to barriers preventing widespread industry adoption. Motivated by synergies between vineyards and vertical PV, this study presents a concept for Concord grape agrivoltaics based on vineyards in New York State (NYS). Simulated shading and radiation conditions guide agrivoltaic design strategies, while an economic analysis illustrates outcomes for grape growers and solar developers. Results show that replacing every fifth row of grapevines with vertical PV panels reduces average photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) on grapevines by 0.42%, and grapevine shading on panels leads to 3.21% power loss annually compared to no-vine scenarios. The proposed Concord agrivoltaic vineyard alleviates losses by $408/acre/year for grape growers, and the vertical PV installation yields a 10-year payback period for solar developers. These findings indicate Concord grape agrivoltaics can create mutually beneficial scenarios for grape growers and solar developers, preserving local Concord grape production and promoting statewide grid decarbonization.