Far Niente Winery
The Challenge
Motivated by the desire to preserve its most valuable resource: the environment, Far Niente turned to solar energy to power its vineyard and winery operations, as well as those of its sister winery, Nickel & Nickel. To truly benefit from the sun’s renewable energy, the winery sought a solar system large enough to meet its energy needs, but with a design footprint that would not encroach upon its valuable vineyard property.
The Solution
In an effort to preserve as much vineyard property as possible, SPG Solar utilized the world’s first large-scale floating solar photovoltaic (PV) array – the patented SPG Solar Floatovoltaics® system. By implementing this cutting-edge technology, the company was able to design a 873 kWp system across both wineries, using 1,000 Sharp solar panels. SPG Solar “floated” the array on top of Far Niente’s irrigation pond.
Noteworthy Achievements
- The world’s first floating solar system.
- Renewable Energy World – Excellence in Renewable Energy Finalist
The Benefits
- Utility rebates from Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) paid for almost a third of the systems’ cost
- A Federal Tax Incentive of 30% of the purchase price further reduced the overall price tag of the systems
- By taking advantage of California’s Net Energy Metering (NEM) program, the systems will send surplus energy back to the power grid, compensated at the retail rate, thus offsetting annual energy costs
- By producing their own power, the systems insulate the wineries from energy price hikes – one of the highest costs of doing business in California
The Green Line
The combined systems prevent 927 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) from being released into the atmosphere each year by fossil-fuel power plants. According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, it takes 211 acres of trees one year to absorb that much CO2.
