Transcript:
At a Colorado State University research site, about a quarter acre of chardonnay grapes is now shaded by a tall canopy of solar panels.
Caspari: “We can produce solar energy, and we can produce a crop underneath.”
Horst Caspari, the state viticulturist and a professor at CSU, says the approach can even benefit the crop.
Shading the vines with solar panels protects them from harsh sun and reduces the need for water by limiting evaporation.
And the solar canopy can also help shield the grapes from frosts and hail.
Last June, before the solar was installed, a severe hailstorm hit the vineyard.
Caspari: “All our crops got destroyed. … With solar panels above at the time, if we had them, I’m sure I would have had a full crop under the canopy.”
Caspari’s team is testing different solar panel types and configurations. Some are opaque and others semitransparent. And by rotating the panels, the researchers can control how much sun hits the panels, and how much reaches the grape vines.
They’re monitoring how much energy each section generates, the microclimate underneath the panels, and how the grape vines do over time.
By sharing what they learn, Caspari hopes to help more growers add solar to their vineyards – and reap the benefits.
Reporting credit: Ethan Freedman / ChavoBart Digital Media
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