Iberdrola España's WineSolar, an example of agrovoltaics
- The Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF) has visited Iberdrola España's WineSolar project in the vineyards of the wineries "González Byass" and "Grupo Emperador" in Guadamur (Toledo) during the celebration of its Bioagrovoltaic Day.
Iberdrola España participated in the Bioagrovoltaic Day organised by the Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF) in Toledo, whose objective was to bring society closer to the dual opportunity of combining the practice of organic agriculture with solar energy production. In addition, during the event, which was attended by companies and public institutions, the general director of UNEF, José Donoso, presented the first Bioagrovoltaic Report, prepared by the Spanish Photovoltaic Union.
During the meeting, the WineSolar agrovoltaic success story was presented, a project being developed by Iberdrola España together with Bodegas González Byas and Grupo Emperador in Guadamur (Toledo). At the end of the conference, experts in the sector and specialised journalists at national level and from Castile-La Mancha visited the estate to learn about the benefits of the project that combines solar panels in vineyards.
Iberdrola España's WineSolar, an example of agrovoltaic coexistence
Winesolar is a project launched by Iberdrola Españain the vineyards of Grupo Emperador, becoming the first smart agrovoltaic plant in Spain. These installations make it possible to adapt the modules’ layout to the needs of the vineyards, in order to regulate sun incidence and temperature thanks to the shade provided by the panels.
The project aims to improve the quality of grapes, allowing a more efficient use of the land, reducing irrigation water use and improving this crop’s resistance to climatic conditions, in the face of rising temperatures and the increasingly frequent heat waves.
Power generated by this 40 kW plant will be used entirely for the Emperador Group Wineries' self-consumption, which will thus reduce their emissions, make progress in the decarbonisation of their activity and reduce their energy costs.
Coexistence of renewable generation and primary sector
This initiative is an example of the positive coexistence of renewable generation with the rural world and the primary sector thanks to agrovoltaic energy, which makes it possible to use the same area of land to obtain both solar energy and agricultural products, improving farms efficiency, competitiveness and sustainability.
Iberdrola España will monitor the project outcomes over the next year. This monitoring will continue enhancing this innovative system, which it plans to replicate in other vineyards in Spain, that accounts for 13% of the world's vineyards.
The Winesolar project has been carried out through Iberdrola España's PERSEO start-up program, which aims to facilitate the company's access to the technologies of the future while fostering the development of a start-ups’ global ecosystem in the electricity sector, with a focus on sustainability.
This initiative was one of the four selected from more than a hundred ideas received from 32 countries to the challenge posed by the company to find new low-cost and eco-friendly solutions to combine, in a sustainable way, the deployment of photovoltaic parks and primary sector activities in rural areas.
Commitment to an inexhaustible source of energy accessible to all
Iberdrola España has consolidated its position as the leading promoter of photovoltaic solar energy, one of the most efficient technologies in the fight against climate change. IberdrolaThe company's commitment to the development of this renewable source will allow it to add 1,500 new solar megawatts (MW) in Spain in the coming months.
Convive Program
Iberdrola España's Convive Program, which includes this initiative, was created to be a continuous improvement program that integrates all the initiatives and alliances for the coexistence between renewable energies and their contribution to socioeconomic development and biodiversity conservation.
Convive brings together initiatives that make possible sustainable development, protection and improvement of biodiversity, learning from experts, and improving the impact of renewables and the social acceptance of the energy transition through collaboration with third parties.