Agrivoltaic Systems in Mediterranean Viticulture: Microclimatic Modification and Physiological Responses of ‘Falanghina’ Grapevines

Agrivoltaic (AV) systems are emerging as a promising strategy to reconcile agricultural management and productivity with renewable energy generation, particularly in climate-vulnerable Mediterranean regions. This study evaluated the effects of static photovoltaic shading on the vineyard microenvironment, as well as the vegetative, productive, and microbiological responses of Vitis vinifera cv. ‘Falanghina’ grown under semi-arid conditions in Southern Italy, comparing high and low shading configurations with full sun (FS) exposure. Although the study was conducted during a single growing season, the vines in the AV system had been growing and adapting to their respective shading regimes for approximately eight years. The AV system modified the vineyard microclimate by reducing solar radiation, air temperature, and wind speed, thereby lowering atmospheric and soil water demand. These morphological adjustments were associated with improved photochemical performance and enhanced vine water status, as well as more effective gas exchange. The physiological and structural responses translated into variations in grapevine productivity: moderate shading (AVL) significantly increased yield per vine by 97.7% compared to FS conditions and by 54.6% compared to high shading (AVS). This increased productivity was achieved while maintaining berry quality comparable to the control, with only an 18% to 15% increase in titratable acidity with respect to FS vines. Beyond vine responses, under the assessed conditions, AV environment also influenced the endophytic culturable microbial community of phyllosphere, inducing early shifts in the relative abundance of dominant morphotypes without detectable changes in richness or Shannon diversity at either stage, although replication was limited. Under the conditions evaluated, AVL showed a possible favorable combination of physiological and productive responses. These findings support the potential of established agrivoltaic systems to mitigate environmental stress and maintain grapevine performance under Mediterranean conditions subjected to drought and high temperatures, while further multi-year studies are needed to assess the consistency of these responses across different growing seasons.