Domaine Carneros Winery in Napa, California, has partnered with Schneider Electric to convert its existing solar and generator systems into a fully integrated microgrid. This collaboration ensures reliable energy supply amidst increasing grid instability and wildfires in the region. Schneider Electric invited CleanTechnica to tour the winery and discuss the microgrid installation.
Addressing Grid Instability in Napa
Napa, known for its vineyards, has experienced rising grid outages, particularly due to Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) aimed at reducing wildfire risks. In California, these shutoffs are becoming more frequent, causing disruptions for both homeowners and businesses. For wineries, such outages can lead to significant revenue loss, especially if operations are halted.
Jana Gerber, North American President of Microgrids at Schneider Electric, emphasized the importance of the microgrid for Domaine Carneros, noting, “The system allows the winery to manage energy from its solar array, battery, and generator, providing backup power.” The system is designed to seamlessly manage energy flows, ensuring continuous operations even during power outages.
Sustainable Operations at Domaine Carneros
Sustainability has been a core value for Domaine Carneros since 2003, when it installed one of the largest solar arrays at a winery. Over the years, the winery has integrated various eco-friendly practices, such as reducing glass usage and reusing cardboard boxes. In 2020, they partnered with EDF Renewables to enhance their solar capabilities with energy storage.
In 2023, the winery upgraded its solar installation with Schneider Electric’s microgrid technology. The new system integrates their existing solar panels, energy storage, and backup generators to create a robust, self-sustaining power source. The modernized solar array now generates twice the energy output of the old system, and the new inverters are optimized for seamless integration with Schneider Electric’s microgrid control system.
Solar Power and Cost Savings
The microgrid setup has significantly reduced the winery’s reliance on diesel generators, with the updated solar array providing nearly 80% of their energy needs in 2024. This installation, costing $2 million, was partially funded by federal and state incentives, making it a more affordable solution. The winery expects a return on investment in about seven years, thanks to savings on energy production, reduced diesel consumption, and increased system reliability.
Domaine Carneros has saved over $100,000 annually, with the added benefit of energy resilience. This capability to maintain operations during grid outages is invaluable to the winery’s business, ensuring they can continue producing wine without interruption.
Standardizing Microgrid Solutions
Schneider Electric’s microgrid solutions are a step toward making energy resilience accessible to more businesses. Traditionally, microgrid installations were expensive and custom-built for each client. Schneider Electric is now standardizing its designs to offer four core microgrid system sizes, reducing costs and making these solutions scalable.
Schneider Electric’s deep expertise and testing facilities ensure that components are rigorously validated before installation, further driving down costs. While customized solutions are still available, the standardized systems make microgrids more affordable and quicker to implement.
Looking Ahead
Schneider Electric projects significant growth in the microgrid sector, with a 20-25% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in the coming years. As microgrids become more common in a variety of settings, from residential homes to large-scale commercial facilities, the future of energy is becoming increasingly electric and decentralized.
Thanks to innovations from companies like Schneider Electric and sustainable initiatives from businesses like Domaine Carneros, the shift toward cleaner, more reliable energy solutions is happening today.
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