Green Lodging Commitments / Eco-Resort

Solar Energy at Post Ranch Inn

March 2009 we completed our solar array which goes a long way in helping us to minimize our environmental impact, our "carbon footprint." Read full press release here.

At Post Ranch Inn we are dedicated to minimizing our environmental impact while providing the ultimate in guest experience.

Solar Array Fact Sheet:

POWER CENTER

• Solar panels produce direct current (DC) electricity
  
• All panels wired to DC disconnect
  
• DC disconnect enables service technician to break the connection between the module sub-arrays and the inverter.
  
• Satcon 225kW inverter is the heart of the power center that converts the DC electricity from the modules to AC electricity for use on the site.
  
• Isolation transformers provide a connection interface to the utility grid
  
• AC disconnects are integrated with the inverter at the power center. The main purpose of the AC disconnect is to allow service technicians to break the connection between the inverter and the utility service
• A data acquisition system (DAS) measures system performance and meteorological parameters, providing remote monitoring capabilities and the ability to view and analyze performance.
  

The power system is a grid connected system (no storage capacity) operated in parallel with the utility grid. When less solar power is produced than guest unit demand requires, the utility grid supplies the difference. When more solar power is produced than guest unit demand requires, the meter turns backward generating a credit. The system size is anticipated to accommodate Guest Units, Sierra Mar and Guest Unit site, and amenities such as the two basking pools, lighting and water features.

SOLAR PV

• 990 Sunpower SPR-210, 210-watt PV modules solar panels
  
• Mounted on 33 Raytracker Single-axis (sun) trackers
  
• Sunpower solar panels or the most efficient solar PV collector on the market (17.8% efficiency)
  
• 208 kW DC
  
• 181.9 kW AC