Duke Energy and Firestone Walker Brewing Co. have completed one of the largest on-site solar systems in the craft beer industry – a 2.1 MW solar system and 281 kW solar carport on approximately 10 acres in Paso Robles, California.
“REC Solar and Duke Energy Renewables were solid partners during this process,” says David Walker, co-owner of Firestone Walker Brewing Co. “They helped us realize our vision of“ beer brewed with sunshine ”and methodically implement the complex claims Engineering and installation of the array. It was as painless a process as we'd hoped it would be. "
The on-site solar, single-axle trackers and carports were made possible through the collaboration of two Duke Energy subsidiaries. REC Solar designed and built the solar project and Duke Energy Renewables provided the financing to Firestone Walker through a 25-year power purchase agreement.
The solar panel, which will generate most of the brewery's energy, is located next to the brewery and has floor mounted single axis trackers that maximize solar energy production. In its first year, 4,055 MWh of electricity will be generated. The second 281 kW system consists of a solar carport, which extends over 14,000 square meters south of the brewery and increases the brewery's total solar production to 4,570 MWh of electricity that was generated in the first year.
The project planning began at the end of 2016 with the groundbreaking ceremony in April 2020. In addition to the solar systems, the project includes upgrades of substations, which make it easier for other local organizations that want to use solar systems to use the energy of renewable energies.
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