RENEWABLE ENERGY
Untitled Page
Winery goes solar with Mitsubishi panels
The Cypress-based company will provide panels for the largest solar projects for a winery in Monterey County.
By Susan BelknappPublished: October 08, 2008 10:31 AM
Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics USA’s Photovoltaic Division will provide high-efficiency solar panels for one of the world’s largest solar projects at a winery. Constellation Wines U.S., which has multiple labels, is implementing the system at Gonzales Winery in Monterey County.
The project is being financed and built by Auburn, Calif.-based o Pacific Power Management and is expected to be completed by the end of the year, continuing to add value during the winery’s off-season.
The 1.2-megawatt solar-power system will cover approximately 170,000 square feet of the main winery warehouse roof and will provide about 60 percent of the winery’s total energy requirements.
The system will be comprised of 6,358 Mitsubishi Electric 185W solar panels that can generate 1,176,230 watts of DC power and deliver 1,000,040 watts of AC power to the grid.
The reductions in greenhouse gas emissions will be the equivalent of taking 2,000 cars off the road each year and the reduced carbon footprint will equal the planting of 2,500 acres of trees.
The estimate of annual offsets – or pollution avoided – includes 1.6 million pounds of carbon dioxide, 1,636 pounds of sulfur dioxide and 2,909 pounds of nitrogen oxides.
“Many wineries and agricultural enterprises have already turned to solar as a primary source of energy and even more are considering it,” says Gina Heng, director of Sales and Marketing for Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics Photovoltaic Division. “Besides the obvious cost savings, they realize that by reducing the pollution near their farms and facilities, their products will be even better.”
Jose Fernandez, CEO of Constellation Wines adds, “This installation is one of the most significant environmental projects undertaken to date by the wine industry.”
|
||||
|
Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics USA’s Photovoltaic Division will provide high-efficiency solar panels for one of the world’s largest solar projects at a winery. Constellation Wines U.S., which has multiple labels, is implementing the system at Gonzales Winery in Monterey County. The project is being financed and built by Auburn, Calif.-based o Pacific Power Management and is expected to be completed by the end of the year, continuing to add value during the winery’s off-season. The 1.2-megawatt solar-power system will cover approximately 170,000 square feet of the main winery warehouse roof and will provide about 60 percent of the winery’s total energy requirements. The system will be comprised of 6,358 Mitsubishi Electric 185W solar panels that can generate 1,176,230 watts of DC power and deliver 1,000,040 watts of AC power to the grid. The reductions in greenhouse gas emissions will be the equivalent of taking 2,000 cars off the road each year and the reduced carbon footprint will equal the planting of 2,500 acres of trees. The estimate of annual offsets – or pollution avoided – includes 1.6 million pounds of carbon dioxide, 1,636 pounds of sulfur dioxide and 2,909 pounds of nitrogen oxides. “Many wineries and agricultural enterprises have already turned to solar as a primary source of energy and even more are considering it,” says Gina Heng, director of Sales and Marketing for Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics Photovoltaic Division. “Besides the obvious cost savings, they realize that by reducing the pollution near their farms and facilities, their products will be even better.” Jose Fernandez, CEO of Constellation Wines adds, “This installation is one of the most significant environmental projects undertaken to date by the wine industry.” |
||||
