Nov 24 2010
SolarCraft, a company specializing in solar electric and solar thermal services, has recently installed a 123.5 kW solar electric system at the DuMOL Winery in California. The new wine-making facility is situated in the Russian River Valley.
The solar electric system comprises approximately 7,000 sq. ft of 315 W solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. SolarCraft used a roof mount system to design and install the system. The system’s PV panels directly convert sunlight into electricity and are capable of producing about 185,000 KWh of energy per year. These factors can significantly reduce the winery’s annual power usage.
Additionally, the DuMOL Winery was the first facility in Windsor Township to receive LEED certification, and the inclusion of the solar system further boosts its sustainable business strategy. The solar system will fulfill the facility’s energy requirements and will help in reducing its carbon footprint. The payback period is expected to be less than six years and will result in substantial cost savings in the long run.
The solar system will allow the winery to produce clean electricity, which will be sufficient to power over 62 homes per day. The system will also cut down approximately 109 tons of greenhouse gases per year.
DuMOL Winery’s partner Michael Verlander stated that the solar system uses high-efficient modules, which allowed the facility to maximize its energy generation and delivered better return on investment.
Source: http://www.solarcraft.net/