Nelson Family Vineyards in Mendocino County, California, is powering 100% of its operations with renewable energy following the installation of a floating solar system on an irrigation pond. The innovative project enables the 74-year-old, 1,800-acre family-run farm to operate entirely on clean energy without taking any agricultural land out of production.
Together with an existing solar system on the roof of the winery, the floating photovoltaic (FPV) system is expected to generate around 200,000kWh of electricity per year—enough to power the winery, agricultural pumps, tasting room, shop, and 12 on-site homes. This is projected to save Nelson Family Vineyards an estimated $90,000 annually, significantly reducing operating costs while also supporting its commitment to sustainable operation.
Image Courtesy of: Nelson Family Vineyards
“With the cost of grid electricity rising so sharply, becoming energy independent will have a major and immediate impact on our operation. This investment will save us a tremendous amount of money year after year,” says Tyler Nelson, the owner of Nelson Family Vineyards. “Best of all, because the system floats on a pond, it does not take a single acre of land out of production. That means our full 1,800 acres can be used solely for what matters most—agriculture and supporting wildlife habitat.”
Image Courtesy of: Nelson Family Vineyards
Real-World Research Platform for UC Davis
The FPV installation will also serve as a key field site for a comprehensive U.S. study on the ecological impacts of FPV technology. Scientists from the UC Davis Wild Energy Center will use the system to examine how FPV systems influence water quality, aquatic species, microclimates, and biodiversity in an agricultural setting.
A major focus of the study will be to determine whether shading from the floating solar panels can help control invasive zooplankton (water fleas) and aquatic weeds that frequently clog the vineyard’s high-efficiency drip irrigation filters—an issue that requires hourly maintenance during peak season. By limiting sunlight, the panels are expected to slow the growth of the water fleas and aquatic weeds, reducing both labor-intensive maintenance and chemical use.
Dr. Elliott Steele, Postdoctoral Researcher at the UC Davis Wild Energy Center, comments: “In conjunction with deploying a new floating solar installation, Nelson’s Family Vineyards has enabled important ecological research on its property. By providing site access to researchers from the UC Davis Wild Energy Center, the vineyard is supporting studies on how floating solar interacts with wildlife and water quality, helping advance our understanding of how floating solar can expand responsibly.”
The floating solar system was designed and installed by Noria Energy, a Sausalito-based renewable energy specialist and an affiliate company of Sunrock Distributed Generation. Sunrock Distributed Generation is a leading platform for commercial distributed energy solutions. It is dedicated to helping operations of all sizes to unlock the benefits of solar and energy storage solutions with no upfront costs by providing Power Purchase Agreements and Energy Services Agreements.
Image Courtesy of: Nelson Family Vineyards
“It’s been a privilege working with the Nelson Family and UC Davis to help the winery save money, achieve energy self-sufficiency, and conserve natural resources,” says Noria Energy’s President, Ron Stimmel. “This project demonstrates how FPV technology can turn underutilized water surfaces into reliable, highly productive power sources, enabling growers to improve both the sustainability and efficiency of their operations while keeping farmland fully productive.”
Image Courtesy of: Nelson Family Vineyards
About Nelson Family Vineyards
Nelson Family Vineyards is a highly diversified, family-owned and operated farm in Mendocino County, California. For over 74 years and spanning multiple generations, the Nelson family has cultivated a diverse 1,800-acre property. While rooted in producing award-winning estate-grown wines from their first-class winery, the farm’s operations also include Bartlett pears and seasonal “choose and cut” Christmas trees. The family also welcomes the public for agritourism, offering camping through Hip Camp. With a firm belief that “Great wines are born in the vineyard,” the Nelsons remain deeply committed to sustainability and environmental stewardship, having invested significantly in creek and stream restoration projects on the property.
About Noria Energy
Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Sausalito, CA, Noria Energy is a pioneer and leader in the rapidly growing floating solar industry in both project development and technology R&D. Noria develops floating solar and other solar projects to serve a variety of customer segments, including hydropower, water utility & water treatment, agriculture, community solar programs, mining, and other commercial and industrial customers to help accelerate the transition to clean energy. Noria is passionate about renewable energy technologies and their positive impact on the environment. Noria was acquired by Sunrock Distributed Generation, Inc. in 2025. For more information, visit www.noriaenergy.com.
