Robert Young Estate Vineyards Winery

Winery Solar Electric Installation Project Profile

At Robert Young Estates Vineyards & Winery, energy use made up a significant portion of their operating costs. Looking to lower these costs and expand their sustainability practices, they turned to SolarCraft to design and install a solar power system at their Geyserville, CA winery.

This historic Alexander Valley property is now powered by renewable, clean energy while enjoying lower utility costs.

Now, with a 190 kW solar power system, electrical usage in the winery, vineyards, residences, and other buildings in the 450-acre estate will be offset by solar energy. This system will immensely reduce the carbon footprint on the estate and save millions of dollars over many years of operation.

The system is ground mounted on a small hillside and consists of 582 SunPower high-efficiency 327-watt solar panels. The system's solar panels convert sunlight directly into electricity and is expected to generate approximately 315,207 kilowatt hours of emissions-free electricity each year, eliminating most of their electrical costs.

The system's panels allow the Winery to generate enough electricity to spare the air more than 223 metric tons of C0₂ gases annually. Over 30 years, the air pollution saved will be equivalent to eliminating over 16 million miles of driving. That's comparable to the air pollution removed by 291 acres of trees.

Immigrating from upstate New York to California for the Gold Rush, Peter Young, grandfather of Robert Young, settled on a 206-acre ranch southeast of Geyserville, California in 1858. He was among the pioneers who literally built the community of the Alexander Valley. From wheat and cattle to prunes and now wine grapes, throughout six generations, the Scions of Robert Young have sustained a unique balance of dedication to and preservation of the land.

"This solar array system is an important part of our continued commitment to farm and produce wines sustainably for generations to come."

~Jim Young CEO, Robert Young Estate Vineyards & Winery