Strain Ranches, a diversified agricultural operation in Arbuckle, Calif., has commissioned a 902 kW solar array to power its commercial rice drying and storage business. The system features solar panels from SolarWorld and micro-inverters from Enphase.
Cultivating 12,000 acres of farmland for the production of nuts, rice and alfalfa, Strain Ranches is an intensive user of electricity, SolarWorld says. The company's new ground-mounted solar installation includes approximately 3,760 SolarWorld solar panels and covers nearly three acres adjacent to the company's rice-drying facility.
The system will offset approximately 25% of Strain Ranches' company-wide energy consumption and virtually eliminate the utility costs associated with the rice dryer, according to SolarWorld.
The array was designed and installed by North State Solar Energy, a solar electric contractor that specializes in agricultural solar projects, and Renewable Design Solutions, a photovoltaic design and consulting firm.
The system is also one of the largest ground-mounted projects in the world to use micro-inverter technology, the companies note.