Alexander Valley Winery Increases Solar Production - Saves More Energy & Money
Novato- and Sonoma-based SolarCraft announced the completion of a 17.3 kW solar electric installation addition at Hafner Vineyard in Healdsburg, CA. The 17.3 kW addition combined with the existing 4.2 kW system bring Hafner's solar production to 21.5 kW.
Hafner originally installed a 4.2 kW solar electric system in 2002 and recently decided to expand the winery's solar productivity to further reduce their carbon footprint and increase their utility savings.
The system addition consists of 1,298 square feet of Sharp 235 watt solar panels. Each pair of panels is controlled by an individual micro-inverter manufactured by Enphase Energy of Petaluma, CA. Unlike more conventional solar electric systems, the micro-inverters will allow the rest of the solar modules to produce at full capacity no matter how many panels are shaded, and greatly increase the overall system efficiency.
The system's photovoltaic panels convert sunlight directly into electricity and will generate approximately 21,233 kilowatt hours of energy annually, offsetting the winery's yearly energy consumption by more than 30%. It will spare the air nearly 19 tons of harmful greenhouse gases annually. Over the next 30 years, the air pollution saved will be equivalent to eliminating over 1.3 million miles of driving.
