Solar power is catching on fast everywhere, but no faster than in wine country. Wineries, which typically enjoy fast payback periods of less than 10 years, are seeing the business sense in solar. As many as 100 wineries are using solar energy to provide at least a portion of their energy needs. There are at least 40 in Napa Valley alone, according to Wine Country Getaways.

Among so many wineries there are of course many different approaches. Some use available land, some use rooftops, some even use water. Solar is used for a wide range of applications at the wineries, from powering processing facilities to residences to any number of the ways that all agribusinesses use power.

Here are highlights of five wineries that are solar power standouts:

Constellation Wines

Monterey County, CA

Constellation Wines‘ Gonzalez winery is set to become the world’s largest solar powered winery. The solar array will cover 170,000 square feet of their warehouse roof and generate 1.7 million kilowatt-hours per year. That will cover more than 50 percent of the winery’s power needs during peak processing times (fall, winter, spring). In the summer enough energy will be exported to provide one quarter of the power needs of all 1,700 homes in the city of Gonzalez.
Photo Credit: Newscom, If you couldn’t tell

Rodney Strong Vineyards – Healdsburg, Sonoma County, CA

Until the Gonzalez array is up and running, Rodney Strong Vineyards can still lay claim to the record for largest solar array in the wine industry. Their 766 kW system creates enough energy during the day to power nearly 800 homes. The winery also does their part to protect local fish and wildlife habitats. They are certified by Fish Friendly Farming.

Shafer Vineyards – Napa Valley, CA

Shafer Vineyards set the bar in California wine country in December 2004 by being the first winery to go completely off the grid. The Shafer family has a long history of sustainability, topped off by the installation of their solar system that is spread out strategically across 200 acres on their property. Shafer sends excess summer electricity back to the power grid, helping to power other homes as well.

Parducci Wine Cellars – Mendocino County, CA

Parducci Wine Cellars was the first carbon-neutral winery in America. Earlier this year they also announced a conversion to 100 percent solar and wind power. Parducci is the oldest family-owned winery in Northern California. Apparently they see the earth and sky as members of that family as well. In order to go 100 percent, the winery will complement its own solar power generation with wind energy credits purchased from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Parducci also uses chemical-free farming, integrated pest management, and biodiesel tractors in their vineyards.

Fetzer Vineyards – Hopland, Mendocino County, CA

Fetzer Vineyards is yet another all-around-green winery in California’s wine country. For starters, they employ one of the nation’s largest solar arrays to power their bottling plant: a 901 kW system that produces over 1 million kWh of electricity annually. Of course they don’t stop there. Fetzer also uses biodiesel machinery onsite, grows sustainable, 100% organic grapes, has reduced water consumption by 8 million gallons annually since 1999, uses lightweight glass for bottling, and more.

And many more…

These are just five of scores of wineries using solar power in California alone, not to mention the 49 other states. Should someone need proof of the economic feasibility and diversity of solar power, they need look no further than California’s wine industry; one industry that is whole-heartedly adopting solar energy and its spreading to other agricultural businesses in the region.

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Posted on February 11th in Solar News by Dan.