After two years of work, the partners of the LIFE CLIMAWIN project met at Bosque de Matasnos to receive their project officer from the European Commission in order to take stock of the progress achieved in this innovative project focused on the sustainability of the wine sector.
During the meeting, the significant technical advances achieved in each of the areas of action were presented, showing promising results in climate mitigation, energy efficiency and adaptation to climate change.
For its implementation, LIFE CLIMAWIN has a consortium led by the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), working together with the University of Zaragoza, the company Intergia Energía Sostenible, the winery Bosque de Matasnos and the Plataforma Tecnológica del Vino.
This initiative, 101113948 – LIFE22-CCM-ES-CLIMAWIN, which runs from July 2023 to December 2026, has a budget of 994,195.02€ and has received funding of 596,516.82€ from the European Union’s LIFE Programme.
Soil and vineyard
One of the most advanced studies is that of land use change in vineyard areas, comparing forest, cereal and vineyard plots. Preliminary measurements indicate that vineyards could act as methane sinks, which is an environmentally relevant finding. In addition, composting trials with biochar have shown improvements in carbon sequestration and reduced emissions of gases such as nitrous oxide.
Cooling and CO2 capture
At the winery level, on the one hand, an innovative cooling system has been implemented that uses groundwater as a thermal focus for cooling the tanks during fermentation, as well as for reducing the thermal inertia of the heat pump; and, on the other hand, a prototype is being implemented for capturing CO2 from fermentation to reuse it both in the winery itself (pumping over) and to sell it to other wineries and industries. This system reduces energy consumption and emissions, with the aim of capturing up to 500 kg of CO₂ per year. Its operation is integrated with a microgrid that prioritises the use of solar energy for the most intensive processes.
Energy and microgrid
Another of the most important initiatives is the implementation of an intelligent microgrid that integrates all the energy consumption points of the winery and vineyard. This system makes it possible to optimise energy generation and storage, improving overall efficiency and reducing costs. Moreover, by prioritising the use of renewable sources over conventional technologies, such as the diesel generators installed at BMA, the microgrid contributes to reducing CO₂ emissions. Historical and real-time data are currently being analysed to validate its technical and economic impact.
The meeting with the project officer has been key to validate the strategic orientation of the project and prepare the ground to face its last year of implementation. LIFE CLIMAWIN partners agree on the need to further strengthen knowledge transfer, impact measurement and replicability of solutions, thus contributing to a more sustainable future for European viticulture.