Perpetual Power Completes 1MW of Solar-Powered Water Pumping Systems at Limoneira Company

CYPRESS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics USA, Inc. and Perpetual Power (P2) have announced the completion of four solar-powered deep water wells at Limoneira Company’s Ducor Ranch. The four solar 250kW AC arrays include single-axis tracking systems which are expected increase power output of each array by 15% by maximizing the amount of sunlight collected by the panels.

When operating at full capacity, the 6,400 ground-mounted, high-efficiency photovoltaic panels can generate 1MW of AC energy for the Limoneira Company, which grows and processes lemons, avocados, oranges, specialty citrus, pistachios and cherries on its orchards in Santa Paula, Calif. Limoneira’s solar electric system is expected to produce 2,300,000 kWh of electricity annually.

Perpetual Power, a San Francisco-based company, designed and installed the four 250kW AC solar electric systems for Limoneira Company. “Using solar energy to irrigate Limoneira’s orchards was a perfect compliment to their existing 1MW solar array. The four new solar systems not only save the company money, they keep the air clean, which is very important to the whole community of Santa Paula,” says Mark Palamountain, founder of Perpetual Power.

The four 250kW AC solar systems replace fossil fueled-powered water pumps and provide enough electricity to offset the annual electricity use equal to 230 average US households. This new 1MW system complements Limoneira’s existing 1MW solar orchard installed in October 2008, supplying the company with a total of 2MW AC of solar power.

“We believe that sustainable business practices are the key to a healthy future and we’re proud to add another megawatt of solar power to our property in Santa Paula, Calif.,” said Harold Edwards, Limoneira\'s president and CEO. “We’ve found that doing the right thing often yields positive financial results in the long run as well.”

The solar system is owned by a third-party company, which allows Limoneira Company to purchase the electricity for an average of $0.08/kWh, more than a third less than California’s average retail electric rate of $0.12/kWh. The solar arrays are not only good for the environment, they are expected to save the company $200,000 annually by lowering its overall electric rate and demand charges.

“Limoneira Company has really proven to be a leader in its industry by installing more than 12,000 modules in less than a year to power its facilities and irrigate its orchards,” said Gina Heng, director of sales and marketing for Mitsubishi Electric& Electronics USA’s Photovoltaic Division.