• On BNET: Make cool hacks for Google Maps
May 29, 2008 7:47 AM PDT

Floating solar farm juices up winery

by Martin LaMonica
  • Font size
  • Print
  • 2 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 by Sharp Solar Systems, were installed by SPG Solar.

Martin LaMonica is a senior writer for CNET's Green Tech blog. He started at CNET News in 2002, covering IT and Web development. Before that, he was executive editor at IT publication InfoWorld. E-mail Martin.
Recent posts from Green Tech
Nissan says all-electric Leaf will compete on price
Wary green-tech venture investors shift gears
Start-up compresses air in tanks for energy storage
DOE technologist handicaps impact of carbon price
Start-ups partner on universal wireless charger
U.S. Army orders bridges made of recycled plastic
Powering cell phone towers with wind
Flywheels to buffer 20 megawatts on grid
Add a Comment (Log in or register)
by rmva May 29, 2008 11:03 AM PDT
Excuse me for being incredibly dense, but I have one question. Electrocution?
Reply to this comment
by LewTheDu May 29, 2008 12:35 PM PDT
I would imagine this would also cut down on how much water evaporates from the pond.
Reply to this comment
advertisement

A CNET Conversation with Eric Schmidt

CNET's Tom Krazit and Molly Wood sit down with Google CEO Eric Schmidt to discuss the future of Android, the Chrome OS, the problem of real-time search indexing, and more.

Verizon tests sending RIAA copyright notices

The No. 2 phone company, known for its reluctance to intervene in antipiracy cases, strikes an agreement to forward copyright notices on behalf of the music industry.

About Green Tech

Innovation in energy and environmental technologies is long overdue, in business and at home. Green-tech guru Martin LaMonica and other CNET writers serve up fresh clean-tech news and commentary.

Add this feed to your online news reader

Green Tech topics

advertisement
advertisement

Inside CNET News

Scroll Left Scroll Right