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Nelson Family Vineyards in Mendocino County, California, is powering 100% of its operations with renewable energy following the installation of a floating solar system on an irrigation pond. The innovative project enables the 74-year-old, 1,800-acre family-run farm to operate entirely on clean energy without taking any agricultural land out of production.
Together with an existing solar system on the roof of the winery, the floating photovoltaic (FPV) system is expected to generate around 200,000 kWh of electricity annually — enough to power the winery, agricultural pumps, tasting room, shop and 12 on-site homes. This is projected to save Nelson Family Vineyards an estimated $90,000 annually, significantly reducing operating costs while also supporting its commitment to sustainable operation.
“With the cost of grid electricity rising so sharply, becoming energy independent will have a major and immediate impact on our operation. This investment will save us a tremendous amount of money year after year,” says Tyler Nelson, the owner of Nelson Family Vineyards. “Best of all, because the system floats on a pond, it does not take a single acre of land out of production. That means our full 1,800 acres can be used solely for what matters most — agriculture and supporting wildlife habitat.”
The FPV installation will also serve as a key field site for a study on the ecological impacts of FPV technology. Scientists from the UC Davis Wild Energy Center will use the system to examine how FPV systems influence water quality, aquatic species, microclimates and biodiversity in an agricultural setting.
A major focus of the study will be to determine whether shading from the floating solar panels can help control invasive zooplankton (water fleas) and aquatic weeds that frequently clog the vineyard’s high-efficiency drip irrigation filters — an issue that requires hourly maintenance during peak season. By limiting sunlight, the panels are expected to slow the growth of the water fleas and aquatic weeds, reducing both labor-intensive maintenance and chemical use.
The floating solar system was designed and installed by Noria Energy, a a local contractor and an affiliate company of Sunrock Distributed Generation.
“It’s been a privilege working with the Nelson Family and UC Davis to help the winery save money, achieve energy self-sufficiency, and conserve natural resources,” says Noria Energy’s President, Ron Stimmel. “This project demonstrates how FPV technology can turn underutilized water surfaces into reliable, highly productive power sources, enabling growers to improve both the sustainability and efficiency of their operations while keeping farmland fully productive.”
News item from Noria Energy
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