A unique project in the World
Agri/Viticultural Solar Project at the Domaine de Nidolères
The Domaine de Nidolères:
– is a family estate
– of 60 ha/150 acres under sole ownership
– cultivated in vineyards for eight generations
– that has been involved in wine tourism for over ten years with its Catalan restaurant, accomodations and bed and breakfast
– is located in the Aspres region (in the heart of the Roussillon), in the commune of Tresserre
– is planted to traditional Mediterranean varieties (Syrah, Grenche, Mourvédre, Carignan, Cinsault, and Muscat of Alexandria)
– its production is based on AOPs (Côtes du Roussillon Rouges, Rivesaltes Ambré and Tuilés, Muscat de Rivesaltes) and IGPs (Côtes Catalanes and IGP d’Oc)
– as is generally true of the Roussillon, yields are low (from 30 to 45 hl/ha)
– the estate’s wines are sold in bulk (70%) and in bottle (30%), in part through wine tourism and in part via export (15% of the production in the United States, Czech Republic, Belgium and Spain)
A Project That is Unique in the World:
The Stakes
It is clear that the agricultural world, and particularly the Mediterranean vineyards, are and will continue in the future to be increasingly impacted by climate change. It is imperative to investigate from today forward adaptations that can be made in the face of excessive temperatures that are already affecting production!
Map of the Mediterranean Vineyards Projected Forward to 2050:
Red = Viability threatened
Blue = sustained vineyards
Green = promising new zones
Is solar agriculture a path of growth to follow for the vine?
The Principle
Conducted by SUN’R and the INRA between 2009 and 2012, a similar program demonstrated an agri-solar synergy by comparing the growth of different crops under the shelter of solar panels, both fixed and in full exposure to the sun. The promising results are the following:
– a strong LER (Land Equivalent Ratio)
– water conservation (of up to 30%)
– a possible overall economic gain for high value added crops
– maintenance of agricultural yield under certain crop conditions and solar panel placement
This kind of program already exists in Japan with other kinds of agricultural production but has so far never been implemented for vines.
The Installation:
The undeveloped area classified for placement of the solar panel project will cover three parcels currently lying fallow, under the land register B420, B390 and B389.
In order to produce a homogenous, reliable, comparative and reproducible study, the plot is a single parcel in the heart of the estate covering roughly 7 ha 50/18.5 acres to be dedicated to this solar viticultural project unique in the world.
In partnership with SUN’R, the INRA and the Agricultural Chamber of the Pyrénées Orientales, the agri-solar development of these parcels will be carried out according to an experimental program that will be part of a perspective on sustainable development.
Moreover, this will eventually allow a closer response to an equation that is for the moment impossible to solve: that of the conflict between use of agricultural lands for energy or for food production.
On these 18.5 acres:
– 5 ha/12.5 acres will support a winegrape vineyard and solar panels
– 2 ha 50/6 acres will also be planted to serve as a control vineyard
To keep in mind:
– These experimental parcels will be worked according to practices specific to wine production. The grower will cultivate according to the dictates of sustainable viticulture and following the advice and wishes of the partners, while the latter will manage the operation of the panels.
– The panels will be used exclusively in the vineyard and be in operation principally during the most active vegetation period (from the beginning of June to the end of August). The rest of the time they will produce electricity managed by SUN’R.
– Today still under study:
– which varieties will be planted (certainly white vines of the AOP and IGP Roussillon)
– what kind of trellising (certainly low)
– spacing between the rows (certainly that most compatible to mechanization and the placement of the panels)
The Desired Objectives:
With the Sun’Agri2 process, the solar panels will be used as an “intelligent” regulator of the microclimatic parameters of the plant. They will be inclined differently, depending on the position of the sun, to respond to the needs of the vine.
Examples of situations:
Situation 1: the plant must either be protected or when it has low need [for illumination]
Situation 2: the plant must be exposed
Situation 3: limitation to nocturnal cooling
During a sunny period, the shade from the panels will:
– prevent the leaves from scorching, which will avoid:
– blockage of photosynthesis and consequent ripening
– and therefore, a heterogeneous maturation of the cluster
– prevent scorching of the clusters:
– which will maintain more aromas and aroma precursors; the quality of the wines will be enhanced
– prevent desiccation and consequently loss of harvest (volume)
– avoid excessively high concentrations of sugars, since ripeness is accelerated by overly strong exposure to sunlight that concentrates sugar through loss of water; this will lead to wines with more moderate alcohol content
– avoid excessive loss of acidity and maintain more freshness in the wines
limit evaporative transpiration from the plant and indirectly loss of yield as well
lead to a more progressive ripening to yield a better-balanced must
Whether day or night, the panels will be able to act as:
– wind deflectors, creating a favorable microclimate:
– for vegetative growth without breaks
– for the proper nourishment of the berries
The researchers hope moreover that once in operation, this project will give them new benefits or problems to resolve linked to the development conditions intrinsic to the vine.
Management of the Project, and Its Economic and Environmental Impacts
The degree of inclination of the panels will be controlled via computer program from Lyon (SUN’R’s location) in concert with the needs of the vines and with recommendation made on site by the INRA and the Agricultural Chamber of the Pyrénées Orientales.
Each panel can be individually activated by a motor.
This viti-solar project can be seen to be destined to become part of the dynamic growth of the regulation of production of the Mediterranean vineyards.
It will provide for maintenance and continuation of development of agricultural and viticultural regulation of the production of Mediterranean vineyards.
In any event, for the Domaine des Nidolières, this project:
– will moreover allow the construction of a new cellar to European standards with an air-conditioned storage location essential to proper preservation of the wines produced
– a vitally important asset for its wine tourism
– will also allow it to position itself to attain level 3 of the “environmental certification: which requires regulatory adherence in matters of cultivation, respect of biodiversity criteria (wildlife refuge, shrub lands, bands of grassland) and the restoration of a “casot,” a traditional shelter found in the Roussillon vineyard
– will be completely integrated in the environment, surrounded by vines and woodlands and through the choice of panels (French) and their supports (driven wood stakes without use of concrete)
世界唯一的项目
Nidolères酒庄农业(葡萄园)光伏计划(露喜龙产区)
- Nidolères酒庄：
- 传统家族式酒庄。
- 占地60公顷，独家拥有。
- 8代葡萄园种植历史。
- 10多年前开始大力推广葡萄园旅游，创办了加泰罗尼亚风味餐厅，家庭旅馆等。
- 位于Aspres地区(露喜龙产区的中心)的Tresserre市。
- 种植了地中海地区传统葡萄品种(西拉，歌海娜，慕尔怀德，佳丽酿，神索，亚历山大麝香)。
- 生产的葡萄酒类型分为AOP级别(露喜龙山丘红葡萄酒，里韦萨特琥珀及瓦红甜酒，里韦萨特甜酒)和IGP级别(加泰罗尼亚山丘和IGP奥克)。
- 跟其他露喜龙产区一样，产量较低(每公顷30-45百升)。
- 通过散装(70%)和灌装(30%)的销售模式，主要供葡萄园旅游和外贸出口(15%的产量出口到美国，捷克，比利时和西班牙)。
世界唯一的项目
研究问题：
现代农业尤其是地中海地区的葡萄园正在或即将要面临一个极易受气候变化影响的环境，过高的气温已经影响了葡萄园的产量，所以，从现在开始考虑应对措施已成为当务之急。
2050年地中海葡萄园地图
红 = 持续受威胁地区
蓝 = 影响较小地区
绿 = 新的适宜地区
光伏农业有望会成为葡萄园的一个救星吗？
原理：
2009-2012年，一个由SUN’R和INRA共同发起的类似项目展示了光伏农业的巨大潜力，该项目通过对比有无固定光伏板遮蔽的试验田，得到了以下结果：
高LER比值(土地当量比)
用水大大降低(高达30%)
提高经济作物的效益
适合的种植条件和光伏板距离保证了农作物的产量
这种类似项目已经在日本的某些农产品开展试用，但尚未在葡萄园内应用。
安装：
为了确保研究的准确性，可信度，可对比性和可再生性，酒庄内面积约为7.5公顷的土地将用于这一世界唯一的葡萄园光伏项目。
联合SUN’R，l’INRA 和东比利牛斯省农业委员会，3块土地的农业光伏开发将作为试验性项目开展，并将为可持续发展的提供有力的支持。
这一项目也有可能为长久以来无法解决的问题–到底是将农业土地用于开发能源还是种植农产品–带来答案。
7.5公顷土地：
5公顷栽种葡萄藤并安装光伏板块。
2.5公顷只栽种葡萄藤，作为参考对照。
要点：
3块试验田的工作将严格按照葡萄酒生产的有关法规开展执行，酒庄庄主按照他的习惯种植葡萄并接纳合作伙伴的建议，合作伙伴负责光伏板的管理。
光伏板将只被安装在葡萄园内，并在葡萄藤生长的主要时期使用(6月初到8月末)。其他的时间，光伏板将用于发电，由SUN’R管理。
仍需研究的内容：
葡萄品种选种(露喜龙产区AOP和IGP级别白葡萄品种)。
葡萄绑枝方式(低端)。
行间距(需要最大配合光伏板的安装和使用)。
研究目的：
光伏板将作为植物气候参数的智能调节器，根据阳光的方向和葡萄园的需要进行位置调节。
实例1 : 植物需要被保护或需要较少供应
实例2 : 植物需要充分阳光
实例3 : 限制夜间降温
主要研究目的：
暴晒情况下，光伏板的阴影：
防止叶子的灼伤，可以：
暂停光合作用，减缓成熟速度。
避免葡萄果实成熟度不一。
防止葡萄果实的灼伤：
保存更多的香气，葡萄酒品质将会很有趣。
避免了葡萄果实的过度干燥引起的产量下降(公升数)。
防止过高糖分，由于葡萄的成熟主要取决于阳光的照射，过度的阳光将使得葡萄失水较多。这能够保证葡萄酒的酒精度数更加的合理。
防止酸度的过多流失，保持葡萄酒的清新口感。
限制葡萄藤的蒸发作用，间接降低产量。
渐进的成熟度有益于获得更加平衡的葡萄汁。
不管是白日还是黑夜，光伏板都可作为：
风阻板，创造更加适宜的微环境：
保证葡萄藤的萌芽。
保证果实的坐果。
挡雨器，降低菌类产生的几率，限制叶面湿度(白粉病)和果实表面湿度(白粉病，灰霉病)。
研究人员希望此次机会能够带来新的收获，并更好地了解葡萄园内部的发展条件。
项目管理，经济影响和环境影响：
光伏板的倾斜角度将根据葡萄园需求情况，INRA实地考察以及东比利牛斯农业协会的建议由里昂(SUN’R总部)远程操控。
每一块光伏板都能够独自启动。
该葡萄园光伏项目将作为调整地中海葡萄园产量的重要参考。
有利于保持和发展该地区的农业和葡萄酒行业以及增加新的就业机会。
总之，对于Nidolères酒庄来说，该项目：
计划建造一所按照欧盟标准的全新酒窖，酒窖同时将配备利于储存葡萄酒的恒温储藏室。
将成为其葡萄园旅游的一大特色。
促使酒庄重新定位以便获得对种植，生物多样性严格要求的环境许可的第三级认证。
