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Solarcraft Completes Solar Electric System At Jacuzzi Family Vineyards

SolarCraft 124 kW Solar Energy Installation at Jacuzzi Vineyards, Sonoma, CA (Photo: Business Wire).
by Staff Writers
Novato CA (SPX) Apr 04, 2008
Novato-based SolarCraft announced today the completion of design and installation of a 124 kW solar electric system for Jacuzzi Family Vineyards in Sonoma, CA. The 124 kW solar electric system at Jacuzzi Family Vineyards in compromised of two separate solar energy systems. Each system uses 374 Mitsubishi Electric 165 watt panels and one Satcon 50 kW inverter, for a total system use of 748 solar panels and 2 inverters.

"Our commitment to sustainable business practices is extremely important to us and it's a great feeling to know that our winery is being powered by solar energy. Overall, I am impressed with how painless the process was from start to finish." Fred Cline, Jacuzzi Family Vineyard

The system is 124 kW DC power and is CEC rated at 103 kW AC power. The solar electric system will produce an estimated 185,130 kWh annually, not including any additional production from the tracking array which could potentially add an additional 37,026 kWh annually, for a total of 222,156 kWh.

The new solar energy system generates enough clean electricity each day to power 82 average homes. The new system will spare the air nearly 91 tons of harmful greenhouse gases annually, or 2,726 tons over the life of the system. Over the next 30 years, the air pollution saved will be equivalent to driving over 6.3 million miles.

One solar energy system provides nearly 100% of the electricity for the Water Well and Fire Pumps. This 61.7 kW system is comprised of two different mounting systems that hold the solar panels in a fixed position facing directly south. Single pole mount and ground-mount structures were used due to limited ground space.

The remaining 61.7 kW portion is mounted on a Single Axis Tracking system, allowing the solar panels to follow the sun throughout the day, providing 15-20% more energy production. A solar energy panel produces the greatest amount of electricity when it is perpendicular to the sun - as opposed to an angle.

The system is currently the largest test case known for comparison between tracking and fixed arrays with identical equipment on the same site. SolarCraft will be monitoring the system very closely with a remote monitoring system and using the data to determine the exact benefits versus cost of tracking systems.

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MMA Renewable Ventures Finances SunPower Solar Systems At 14 Macy's Stores
San Francisco CA (SPX) Apr 04, 2008
MMA Renewable Ventures has announced that it has signed Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for 14 new solar electric systems at Macy's stores in California. MMA Renewable Ventures arranged equity investment for the first four systems through its Solar Fund III, a financing commitment with a subsidiary of Wells Fargo, under which Wells Fargo intends to fund 10-15 megawatts of solar energy projects nationwide.







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