HelioPower has started construction of its 516kW (DC) solar power system at the Giumarra Vineyards production and cold storage facility in Bakersfield, California. The system will use over 2,296 PV modules to produce 1GWh of electricity per year.
“It’s 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 will be supplying its turnkey energy solutions out of its Bakersfield operations. The system will be ground-mounted with a single-axis tracker system. Completion on the project, as well as utility interconnection and commissioning, is scheduled to take place early this summer with additional monitoring after completion provided by HelioPower to ensure that the Giumarra solar power station is operating at full production capacity.