Our Tallest Agrivoltaics Installation Yet!

In mid-October, our team completed one of the most unique and inspiring projects in our portfolio to date. Set against the dramatic mountain backdrop of Grand Junction, Colorado, this system marks a major milestone for agrivoltaics in the U.S. by standing as the largest viticulture-focused agrivoltaic system (or “viti-voltaic”) in the country.

Our Partners

We were proud to serve as the installation contractor under Sandbox Solar, a local EPC and recognized leader in agrivoltaics across the region. The single-axis tracking system was designed and supplied by SolarGik, with the project spearheaded by Dr. Horst Caspari, a Colorado State Professor and expert viticulturist.

Located near Colorado State University’s Western Campus, Dr. Caspari’s quarter-acre research vineyard of Chardonnay grapes will serve as a living laboratory for clean energy and sustainable agriculture. Here, researchers will study everything from soil compaction caused during solar installation to shifts in microclimates and grape yield performance, including how different panel opacities affect light transmission, vine growth, and fruit quality. 

Why This Installation Was Different (and Challenging)

As interest in agrivoltaics grows, we have had opportunities to build several agrivoltaic systems. However, this project was unlike any we’ve taken on before. With the majority of previous builds, our team worked on blank-slate landscapes, not yet populated with soon-to-be-planted vegetation. In this case, however, we faced rows of mature, established grapevines. 

Our installation team worked carefully within the vines, driving piles, assembling the racking, and installing 240 solar panels while avoiding major disruption to the crop. This project called for a new level of planning and adaptability, as we adjusted our usual construction methods to work carefully within the existing vineyard rows.

• The result: a sleek 14-foot-tall steel structure, designed at this height to let the right amount of sunlight in between rows of panels. 

Beyond Energy Generation

According to the Colorado Newline, the system is projected to generate approximately 155 megawatt-hours of clean electricity per year, supplying roughly 40% of CSU Western Campus’s annual energy needs.

But the impact goes far beyond energy production. In fact, Dr. Caspari expressed that the “A before the V” in agrivoltaics, meaning agriculture takes priority over voltaics. The project

• Protection from hail, frost, and sunburn
  Even a single hailstorm or frost can ruin the crop yield. The solar canopy offers an added layer of defense and creates a more temperate microclimate, shielding crops from weather extremes.
• Reduced water use
  Partial shading helps moderate soil temperatures, allowing the soil to retain moisture longer and reduce irrigation needs.

Observations already show milder temperatures under the system heading into November, confirming the benefits of elevated PV systems for sensitive crops like grapes.

Looking Ahead

While the U.S. still has ground to cover compared to Europe’s agrivoltaic movement, this project represents a significant step forward. It stands as a model of collaboration and progress, and we’re thrilled to have contributed to advancing Colorado’s leadership in agrivoltaics. Projects like this demonstrate how clean energy infrastructure can enhance, rather than compete with, agricultural productivity.

As more growers and researchers explore dual-use solar, Sunstall Inc. looks forward to continuing our role in building the systems that make this progress possible; from vineyards to orchards to open fields.

written by Anika Svenson