Floating solar farm juices up winery

Posted by Martin LaMonica2 comments

Napa Valley winery Far Niente on Tuesday commissioned what it says is the first floating solar farm.

(Credit: Sharp Solar Systems)

Called a "floatovoltaic" solar array, it is a collection of almost 1,000 solar panels hitched to pontoons that float in the vineyard's irrigation pond.

In tandem with another 1,300 panels next to the pond, the entire array will generate about 4.000 kilowatts of energy at peak time, covering the winery's annual electricity use.

The panels in Far Niente's solar array, made bySharp Solar Systems, were installed by SPG Solar.