Solar ag boom: Solar3D inks $12M in agricultural solar projects

solar agriculture

The ag sector is excited about solar power. I mean, just look at how pumped those cows are.

Solar3D Inc., has secured approximately $12 million via several new agreements to provide agricultural and commercial customers in the Northern California region with comprehensive solar solutions. Solar3D is a provider of solar power solutions (with a big focus on agriculture and commercial) and the developer of a proprietary high efficiency solar cell.

“We are pleased to begin 2016 by announcing a number of solar agreements that we believe are an indicator of things to come this year,” said Jim Nelson, CEO of Solar3D. “Solar3D continues to build its position as the preferred integrator in the California agriculture solar market. Our experience shows that solar solutions are economically feasible, especially when given a customer-first suite of financing options.”

The company expects this trend to continue as the National Farmers Union (NFU) recently shared its support of the Department of Energy’s decision to maintain solar tax credits, stating that medium-sized rooftop solar power remained an ‘excellent low-risk investment’ for many farmers with substantial electricity bills.

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Details on the most recent deals:

Butte County Rice Growers Association (BUCRA), a 100-year-old cooperative that has 400 farmer members in Northern California, contracted the Solar3D to provide a 2.2-MW ground mount solar system. The approximately $3.6 million installation is estimated to generate more than $14.8 million in energy cost savings over a 25-year period.

Corder Farms, a fourth generation family farm in the Fall River Valley, has agreed to a $2.1 million contract for the design and installation of a 1.03-MW ground mount system comprised of Canadian Solar Panels and Solectria inverters. The solar system is expected to save Corder Farms nearly $9 million in energy costs over a 25-year period.

Five H Farms is a prominent dairy farm located in Merced, Calif., that sought an energy-efficient solar program designed to improve efficiency and reduce overall energy costs. Following an implementation of a $1.4 million, 699-kW Canadian Solar Ground Mount, Five H Farms will realize more than $6.2 million in energy cost savings over a 25-year period.

Colusa Rice Co. was established in 1982 and operates as an S-Corp. comprised of 39 growers and owners. The organization requested the design and implementation of a $1.3 million, 667-kW ground mount solar system that will achieve over $5.5 million in energy cost savings over a 25-year period.

Kern Ice and Cold Storage, a cold storage facility located in Bakersfield, contracted with Solar3D for the design and installation of a 451-kW Sunpower Roof Mount solar system. The $1.1 million agreement is expected to generate more than $5.4 million in energy cost savings over a 25-year period.

The company also secured $2.5 million in combined agreements with farms including Tarke Farms, Sills Farms Inc., Van Dyke Farming, Cain Ranch, JH Meek & Sons and Heidrick & Heidrick Enterprises. The latter two companies are repeat customers, a strong representation of Solar3D’s commitment to customer service and financing options that benefit the customer above all else.

— Solar Builder magazine

[source: http://solarbuildermag.com/news/solar-agricultural-and-commercial-deals-solar3d/]

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