Solar energy And agricultural tradition come together in a project that aims to revolutionize Italian viticulture. Caviro, the largest winery in Italy, inaugurated today, 17 October, the largest agrivoltaic system on a vineyard in our country.
Located in the vineyard adjacent to the Caviro Cellars, the plant will produce 1,300,000 kWh of electricity annuallysufficient to cover the energy needs of the winery. But not only that: the advanced agrivoltaic system adopted by Caviro also performs the function of screw protectionprotecting them from hail, wind and spring frosts, while optimizing solar exposure for photosynthesis.
The project, which extends over a surface area of 1.5 hectares and has 63 uniaxial trackers and 1,386 bifacial solar panels, representing a total investment of 1.5 million euros.
“The Forlì agrivoltaic plant is a pilot project that will allow us to acquire important data and knowledge for improve the quality of our production, protect the harvest and produce clean energy“, he explained Giampaolo BassettiGeneral Director of Caviro, in an exclusive interview with GreenMe. “We are convinced that this model can also be replicated in other cellars in our supply chain, contributing to the transition towards a more sustainable future for the Italian wine sector”.
The agrivoltaic plant inaugurated today is the beginning of a path that will see agriculture and clean energy interact more and more, in line with objectives of the UN Agenda 2030.
“The wine production chain lends itself ideally to the so-called ‘dual use’ of the land, related to agricultural and energy production,” explained Giampaolo Bassetti. “With this pilot project, Caviro wants to demonstrate that clean energy production can go hand in hand with a more sustainable vineyardin which quantity and quality are not modified and photovoltaic coverage helps mitigate the damage caused by climate change. Extreme weather events such as hailstorms and spring frosts are increasingly frequent and intense, putting our vineyards to the test. This system allows us to protect our vines and guarantee production continuity even in adverse weather conditions.”
The Caviro agrivoltaic plant is an example of how technological innovation can contribute to the transition towards a more sustainable future. The management software, in fact, collects and analyzes environmental data, allowing the panels to orient themselves in order to optimize the absorption of solar energy And ensure the right balance between shadow and light for the vines. This system will also make it possible to reduce the water needs of plants, a fundamental aspect in a context of growing water scarcity.
“The responsible management of water resources is a priority for Caviro,” added Bassetti. “Agriculture is one of the most water-intensive sectors, and climate change is worsening the situation with increasingly prolonged periods of drought and extreme flood phenomena concentrated in a few hours. Thanks to this plant, we can help reduce the environmental impact of our business and preserve this precious resource for future generations. The intelligent management system of the plant allows us to constantly monitor the humidity of the soil and to irrigate the vines only when necessary, avoiding waste and optimizing the use of water”.
In recent years, Caviro has implemented innovative water saving technologies, recovering 42% of the water used in its factories, equal to over 621 million liters per year. “The responsible management of water resources is a priority for us, and we have chosen to invest in systems that allow us to reuse water, reducing our environmental impact,” explains Bassetti. However, current regulations do not yet allow this reclaimed water to be used for irrigation, a challenge that Caviro is ready to face.
A circular economy model
Caviro’s commitment to sustainability extends to the entire production chain. Through the subsidiary Caviro Extra, the Group has developed a circular economy model “From Vineyard to Vineyard“, which provides the recovery and valorisation of winemaking waste. Alcohol, grape seeds for seed oil, enocyanin as a natural colorant and organic fertilizers are obtained from the pomace, while wastewater and organic waste are transformed into biogas and biomethane.
“Our goal is eliminate the concept of waste“, underlined Bassetti. “Every raw material is a precious resource that can be transformed and put back into circulation, in a virtuous cycle that unites man and the environment”.
The challenge of sustainability
“We believe that companies have a responsibility to adopt clean and renewable technologies, optimize processes to reduce waste and raise awareness among their stakeholders on the issue of environmental sustainability, which is not just a question of technology, but also of culture and awareness“, concluded Bassetti. “Each of us can do our part by adopting responsible behavior and choosing products and companies that are concretely committed to safeguarding the planet”.
