More Than 6,300 Solar Panels Atop (California) Winery - approx. 50% of (their) energy requirements

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://todaysfacilitymanager.com/facilityblog/2009/01/more-than-6300-solar-panels-atop-winery.html

January 16th, 2009

More Than 6,300 Solar Panels Atop Winery

Constellation Brands, Inc., an international producer and marketer of beverage alcohol brands, is in the process of implementing the world’s largest winery solar energy system at its Gonzales, CA, facility. The company anticipates the project to be completed in early this year.

Once in place, the solar energy system is expected to produce more than 1.7 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year, which will provide approximately 50% of the winery’s total energy requirements. Electricity will also be exported to local residential customers during the winery’s non-peak use periods.

Through partnerships with Pacific Power Management, Mitsubishi Electric, and Pacific Gas and Electric, 6,358 solar panels are being installed on the roof of the main building at the Gonzales winery, which is located near Monterey, CA. The project, which is designed to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, is estimated through the lifetime of the system to annually reduce the facility’s carbon footprint in an amount equivalent to planting 2,500 acres of trees, not driving an average automobile 25 million miles, or taking more than 2,000 automobiles off the road. Wines produced at Gonzales include Robert Mondavi Private Selection, Solaire by Robert Mondavi, Black Box and Hayman & Hill.

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[chaplainM]

1. I understand they're used to power GrowLights

...to illuminate grapevines in the shadow of the solar panels.

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. I guess you didn't bother to read the article

The solar panels are on top of a winery, not a vineyard.

[chaplainM]

3. They laughed at Pasteur, too. n/t