By Blake Jackson
A study published on September 1, 2025, in Applied Energy explored the potential of “agrivoltaics” combining grape cultivation with solar energy production using vertical solar panels in vineyards.
Researchers modeled a system where every fifth row of grapevines is removed and replaced with vertical bifacial solar panels, estimating an additional $400 per acre in annual revenue.
“The average vineyard in the Lake Erie region is about 200 acres,” said Miguel Gomez, the Robert G. Tobin Professor of Applied Economics in the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, who led the study’s financial analysis. “That’s about $80,000 in increased profits for the grower.”
Replacing every fifth row optimizes both grape production and energy harvesting, while reducing pruning, weeding, and trellis maintenance by 20%. Concord grapes, commonly grown in western New York for juices and related products, are generally less profitable than wine grapes.
“[Agrivoltaics] could reduce the annual financial losses of Concord growers and generate a lot of power if you put it across the region,” said Justine Vanden Heuvel, professor of viticulture at Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and co-author of the study.
Heuvel noted that western New York has roughly 30,000 acres of Concord grapes, with another 18,000 in Pennsylvania, and many farms operate at break-even or losses.
The study found vertical bifacial panels straight, dual-sided solar panels are preferable to tilted panels, which would block tractor access, reduce airflow, and hinder disease prevention.
“Airflow is really important in terms of reducing opportunities for fungal diseases,” Vanden Heuvel said. Concord grapes are particularly suited to this setup because they need fewer sprays, keeping panels cleaner and reducing the risk of damage from tractors.
Installing panels can be costly. K. Max Zhang, the Irving Porter Church Professor of Engineering and co-author, noted that elevating panels above all grape rows is possible but expensive.
Leasing land to a solar developer could offset costs, with the panels generating about 16,000 megawatt-hours annually and investment recovered in 14 years. Gomez added, “You’re basically renting rows of your production that make your whole farm more financially viable.”
The next step is a pilot hybrid solar-grape plot at Cornell AgriTech. “If successful enough to encourage growers throughout the region, it would generate considerable power for New York,” Vanden Heuvel said.
Photo Credit: istock-jimfeng
Categories: New York, Education, Energy