Smart microgrid: how to reduce costs and CO2 emissions in wineries and vineyards
Abstract
The wine sector is greatly threatened by climate change, but is also one of its contributors. In vine-growing and wine-making activities, energy is one of the main sources of CO2 emissions, as well as a significant economic cost. Wine companies often turn to the production and use of renewable energy, usually photovoltaics, as a means of reducing their emissions and operating costs. However, there are several hindrances when it comes to efficiently manage all the energy flows that exist in vineyard and winery. A proposed solution for this is the integration of all generation and consumption points (generators, batteries, pumps, loads, etc.) into a microgrid managed by a smart controller. This controller uses advanced techniques, such as Model Predictive Control, Genetic Algorithms, Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to optimise the economic savings and emissions reduction. The solution has been developed and used in a real case study in a winery and vineyard located in a semi-natural environment, as part of the European LIFE CLIMAWIN project. The main objective is to reduce the use of fossil fuel, decrease emissions, maximise renewable energy utilisation and achieve an operational cost reduction, while assuring a fully autonomous operation in a more observable manner. Results already show a reduction of between 16-42% in both fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
DOI:
Publication date: 22/09/2025
Issue: 46th World Congress of Vine and Wine
Type: Short communication
Authors
1 Intergia Energía Sostenible, Zaragoza, Spain
2 Universidad San Jorge, Zaragoza, Spain
3 Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain