Sharp Provides Photovoltaic Panels for Winery's

OAKVILLE & HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., MAY 29, 2008– Napa Valley wine producer Far Niente has gone live with its ‘Floatovoltaic™’ solar array. The Floatovoltaic installation, developed by Thompson Technology Industries, Inc. (TTI), creatively couples solar power with water, saving valuable vineyard acreage from being sacrificed for land-mounted arrays; this innovative solar system was installed by SPG Solar, using solar panels from Sharp, a world leader in solar electricity. Far Niente’s Floatovoltaic system involved securing nearly 1,000 Sharp solar panels on pontoons, then floating the pontoons on the winery’s vineyard irrigation pond.  Combined with a section of another 1,300 panels located on land adjacent to the pond, the array is generating 400 kWs at peak output, significantly offsetting the winery’s annual power usage and provide a net-zero energy bill.

“Napa Valley is making tremendous strides in its efforts to achieve sustainability,” said Ron Kenedi, vice president of Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group, the U.S. solar arm of Sharp.  “By adopting clean, reliable and renewable solar power, Far Niente is making a commitment to the long term sustainability of this magnificent region.”  Read more www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/story

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