Solar for agriculture

One of the nation’s leading table grape growers initiates clean energy strategy with photovoltaic system at its main production and cold storage facility in Bakersfield, CA

HelioPower, an integrated energy solutions company with over 1600 solar and clean energy systems engineered and installed since 2001, today announced the commencement of construction on a 516 kilowatt (kW) dc commercial solar power system for Giumarra Vineyards Corporation.  The solar photovoltaic (PV) system will be adjacent to Giumarra’s main production and cold storage facility in Bakersfield, CA.  Using 2296 PV modules, the system will deliver 1 gigawatt-hour of electricity annually, enough to power over 200 homes.  The system will offset more than 24,000,000 pounds of CO2 emissions over the next 20 years.

The Bakersfield solar power installation is a key milestone in the Giumarra sustainability program.  The program’s energy strategies include the reduction of electricity consumption throughout its growing and packing operations and the generation of clean energy to bring down costs and carbon emissions.

“Its a great feeling when we can reduce our operating costs and do the right thing for the environment,” said fourth generation grower and shipper John Giumarra III.  “Growers are being squeezed by escalating costs on all fronts.  We must be diligent in controlling costs in every aspect of our business, with our new solar power system being the first step in holding the line on our ever increasing energy costs, while at the same time doing our part to become a more sustainable family farming operation.”  

HelioPower is providing turnkey energy solutions for the Giumarra solar power project out of its Bakersfield based operations.  The system configuration is ground mounted, with a single-axis tracker system.  Completion, utility interconnection and commissioning of the Giumarra solar power system is slated for early this summer.  Energy generation will be monitored and analyzed by the HelioPower proprietary energy analytics software to ensure production capacity is fully utilized. 

“Giumarra is setting an important example in the agricultural community,” said Ty Jagerson, President of HelioPower.  “They have created a high bar for their energy solutions program.  We are very pleased to empower them to generate their own clean energy, beginning with solar electricity.”

By Mo Rousso
Chief Technology Officer, HelioPower

John Cox, Californian staff writer, recently highlighted the growing concern over energy and energy related incentives for growers in the Central Valley.

His article, Energy incentives programs worry valley farmers, illustrates how important energy costs are to the agricultural community and how difficult it is to manage those expenditures.

HelioPower has been specializing in the agricultural and food-processing sector for some time.  Out of our work to cut energy use and create new energy solutions, we have gained a pretty good sense of what drives farmers.  We have listened to their concerns including practical solutions, cost sensitivity, strong rate of return, and minimum impact to their business operations.

The article points to a key issue regarding time of use energy demand and the need to lower energy usage during peak hours. These are the same hours that growers most use water irrigation equipment, as an example of one of the critical issues.

From the article: “Adjusting to the time-of-use incentive may require farmers to invest in new irrigation equipment and rework their labor schedules.

Even more worrisome for farmers is the critical peak demand program. Agricultural companies are not always able to reschedule workers, and turning away water already on order may mean they won't get it back for days — and that may be too late.”

This calls attention to the need for new power generation approaches.  These technologies must generate energy during the critical peak demand.  One such example is the installation HelioPower engineered for Sunnyland Mills in Fresno, CA. 

Sunnyland Mills is the first company in the U.S. to utilize solar power to make bulgur. According to Mike Orlando, Chairman of the Board:

HelioPower on site at Sunnyland Mills solar installation, Fresno, CA.

“Sunnyland started in 1935 using the sun to dry wheat for bulgur.  We are going back to our roots by utilizing the energy of the sun to produce our products.”  HelioPower was the consultant and contractor for the project.  Since the Sunnyland system was commissioned in 2007, it has produced 102% of expected energy.

This is just one example of how new approaches to energy reduction and generation can serve the farmers in the Central Valley meet the new energy incentives in California.

HelioPower has created a solutions approach that blends energy economics (costs and returns, as well as financing options) and energy engineering (practical design, integrated technologies, and O&M).  The cornerstone to our approach is our PowerAdvisor energy analytics engine that allows us to model potential solutions within the context of our client’s operational needs and that hit the mark with respect to the decision drivers above.  So, when we propose a solution, we will have considered time-of-use electricity rates versus the farmer’s need to schedule water and irrigate his crops.  Only solutions that address needs in this manner become practical and provide value to the agricultural community.

Editor’s Note: Mo Rousso is the Chief Technology Officer for HelioPower. He is a true clean energy veteran, having installed his first solar power system in 1975.  He started the company in 2001 and is now responsible for the engineering of innovative energy solutions and technologies that deliver increased return on investment.