Commercial Ground Mount

Pickberry Vineyards

Sonoma, California
Irrigation and Residential Solar Systems

“We installed solar energy at Pickberry for two reasons, to replace our cost of irrigation, and because it’s the right thing to do for our planet. The winery which purchases Pickberry grapes knows to add another marketing point to their wine… ‘grapes grown with solar energy.’”
Owner Cris Strotz

Combined Output

21.7 kW combined to produce 30,938 kWh annually

Ground-mounted Irrigation System:

System Information

• 14.8 kW irrigation system
• 21,841 kWh annually

System Components

• 78 Evergreen 190 watt solar modules
• 3 iPower®SHO 4.8 inverters

System Performance

• 16.2% Internal Rate of Return
• Simple Payback (with Loan Savings) 6 years
• Positive Net Present Value

Challenges

• Lower irrigation energy costs
• Utilize challenging steep, uneven rocky terrain

Solutions

• Specified ultra-high efficiency solar components
• Created graduated-stilt mounting system hardy enough to handle the grade

Environmental Impact

Prevents 23.502 lbs of carbon dioxide pollution

Residential System:

System Information

• 6.8 kW residential system
• 9,097 kWh annually

System Components

• 36 Sanyo 190 watt solar modules
• iPower®SHO 3.5 inverters

System Performance

• 12.4% Internal Rate of Return
• Simple Payback 10 years
• Positive Net Present Value

Challenges

• Lower guest house energy costs
• Maintain architectural look of rooftop

Solutions

• Specified ultra-high efficiency solar components
• Utilized low-profile, center-balanced modules

Environmental Impact

Prevents 10,190 lbs of carbon dioxide pollution