Luz da Tapada: the wine born beneath solar panels

Among the vineyards of Tapada da Ajuda, with Lisbon and the Tagus River as a backdrop, there is an unexpected feature: several rows of photovoltaic panels. Unlike those found in a conventional solar park, they are not installed close to the ground. Instead, they stand several metres high, leaving room for the vines, people and agricultural machinery to move underneath.

This is where Galp and the Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA) are testing a different way of using the same land. Instead of replacing vineyards with solar panels, the AgriPV project seeks to determine whether it is possible to generate renewable energy while continuing to grow grapes in the same area, and whether the shade created by the panels can help vines cope with higher temperatures. Installed in 2024, the pilot is the first agrivoltaic vineyard project implemented in Portugal.

“The idea is to create a synergy between agriculture and energy production. Instead of having to choose between a vineyard or a solar installation, we want to understand how the two can coexist on the same land,” explains Thayná Camões, Innovation Project Manager at Galp.

Behind this simple idea, however, lie several questions. What happens to a vine when it spends part of the day in the shade? Does it require the same amount of water? Do the grapes ripen at the same rate? And, in the end, is the wine any different?

Luz da Tapada: a pioneering experiment

Everything began with a simple comparison: vines from the same vineyard, some growing beneath the panels and others under open skies. The first data were collected in 2024, but it was in 2025 that researchers monitored, for the first time, a complete growing cycle under the panels, from leaf temperature to grape development. 

Some differences quickly became apparent. “With excessive sun exposure, grapes can become sunburnt, shrivelled and unusable,” explains Thayná Camões. During the latest harvest season, sunburn affected far fewer grapes beneath the panels, and during the hottest hours of the day, leaves were noticeably cooler. 

Potential reduction in water consumption 

The shade provided by the panels may also help vines manage water more efficiently. With less exposure to the sun, evapotranspiration decreases, meaning less water is lost through the soil and the plants. Although the results are still being analysed by ISA, the experiment has already provided some promising indications. 

“When they received the same amount of water, the vines growing beneath the panels showed greater growth and had to be trimmed to maintain a height similar to the others,” says Thayná Camões. This is one of the signs currently being studied to determine whether the panels’ shade could reduce irrigation needs. 

The shade also appears to have slowed the vineyard’s biological clock. Researchers monitored sugar accumulation in the grapes and observed differences in ripening rates between vines cultivated beneath the panels and those exposed directly to the sun. 

In a context of rising temperatures and earlier harvests, delaying ripening may prove advantageous, giving grapes more time to develop other characteristics, such as aromas, without accumulating sugar as quickly. “Harvests used to take place later in the season, but they are increasingly happening earlier,” says Thayná. With extreme heat, she adds, “grapes reach maturity very quickly and do not develop their flavour profile as fully.”

From the vineyard to the bottle 

After studying what happened in the vineyard, the next step was to bring the experiment into the glass. This led to the creation of Luz da Tapada, produced from the Encruzado grape variety in a limited experimental edition, with bottles made from grapes grown beneath the panels and others from grapes cultivated in the open-air plot. 

For now, at least, the aim is not to sell the wine. “This is an experimental wine. What we want is to showcase an innovative concept,” explains Thayná Camões. 

Tapada da Ajuda therefore serves as a learning field. “We wanted to understand the challenges of installing a system like this and the logistics required to ensure this synergy,” says the project manager. 

Moving from an experiment to a solution that can be applied elsewhere requires addressing very practical issues. The panels must allow tractors and other machinery to pass underneath, while the height and structure need to be adapted to the specific crop. Agricultural work must also continue without disruption. 

“It is extremely important to have the producer or partner involved throughout the process so that we can understand how they work and minimise the impact on their day-to-day operations,” Thayná emphasises. 

A concept with potential to scale 

Galp has two other agrivoltaic projects, this time involving blueberries in Viseu and Fuji apples in Alcobaça. The principle is the same, but the solutions differ. 

In Viseu, the project developed in partnership with CCDR Centro at the Viseu Agricultural Station uses a smaller, mobile system. “The idea was to test the concept with another crop and on a simpler site,” explains Thayná. In Alcobaça, meanwhile, the Fuji apple project uses a fixed structure and semi-transparent solar panels. 

Each experiment adds a different piece to the puzzle, helping researchers understand how agrivoltaic systems can be adapted to different crops, terrains and farming practices. 

Luz da Tapada is therefore one of the first answers from an experiment that still has much more to reveal. In the vineyard, the panels have already altered shade patterns, temperature and the pace of grape ripening. The challenge now is to understand just how far this shared-use model of agriculture and energy production can go.