The Use of Solar Energy at Burrowing Owl Estate Winery

An Abundant, Renewable, Clean Energy Source

The sunny Okanagan valley is one of Canada’s best locations for capturing its perpetual, green energy and converting it into either heat or electricity. In 2006 Burrowing Owl installed its first “hot water” solar panels. That clean/green energy system continues to this day as several new investments into photovoltaic (PV = electrical) solar panels have been completed that will produce electrical power efficiently and for no additional cost, for another 35 – 40 years.

Solar Hot Water

In 2006, Burrowing Owl Estate Winery made its first significant investment into renewable solar energy panels to produce hot water, a commodity that wineries use in large quantities for barrel washing and other cellar-related cleansing functions. During the hottest summer months, the hot-water solar panels actually produce an excess of hot water that is “dumped” into our swimming pool to the delight of our Guest House patrons. These hot water solar panels produce the electrical equivalent of 53,100 kWh (kilowatt-hours) annually, and offset CO2 emissions of 27.1 tons (27,500 Kg) annually.

Solar Electric (Photo-Voltaic)

Beginning in 2015, like flat-screen TVs, the price of solar electric panels plummeted as world-wide acceptance of the technology took hold. Perhaps because of the abundance of hydro-electricity in this province, the incentive to move to solar electric alternatives lags far behind the rest of the world, despite the significantly reduced up-front installation cost of recent years.

Nevertheless, since 2016, Burrowing Owl has installed four new solar electric systems, at three different locations.

1. Cellar Expansion (7,500 sf)

On the flat roof of the winery’s recent cellar expansion completed in 2017, there is a 3,350 s.f. flat and clear roof. This area is now blanketed with 70 solar panels, each capable of producing 310-watts of electricity.  This 70-panel array produces 25,300 kWh/year, while offsetting approximately 12.9 tons (13,100 Kg) of CO2 emissions annually.

2. Parking Lot Shade Structure

In the centre of the Burrowing Owl parking area is a landscaped “island” with parking for 12 vehicles. During the fall of 2017, the winery designed and installed a custom structure with 108 solar panels to cover these 12 parking spaces. These extremely efficient bi-facial panels provide protection from rain and the intense summer sunshine, while generating 54,000 kWh/year and offsetting CO2 emissions totalling 27.5 tons (27,940 Kgs).

3. Warehouse

The winery’s main warehouse, located in Oliver, contains 45,000 sq. ft of secure heated and air-conditioned space. The annual electrical power usage is approximately 58,000 kWh/year, in this fully insulated building.

In 2017, a 50-kW system comprised of 160 solar panels was installed on this building‘s south-facing roof that generate about 58,000 kWh/year. Since the solar energy produced is approximately equal to the energy consumed during the year, this facility can claim a “NET-ZERO” carbon footprint, believed to be the first significant building with this level of energy efficiency in British Columbia’s wine industry. The annual carbon offset from these solar panels is 29.6 tons (30,100 Kgs).

     

4. Osoyoos Staff House

During October 2016, the roofs of the winery’s Osoyoos staff house and the adjacent garage were covered by 116 solar panels rated at 310 W each. The annual production of these panels is 42,000 kWh/year. The average annual electrical usage is also approximately 40,000 kWh annually, making this Burrowing Owl’s second largest NET-ZERO carbon footprint building. The carbon off-set here is 21.4 tons (21,800 Kgs) annually.

5. Electric Car Charging Stations

Burrowing Owl strongly supports the use of electrically powered automobiles and in 2017, the winery installed eight (8) charging stations in the parking area for the use of visitors and staff. Four stations have ‘standard’ chargers and four have the Tesla quick chargers. These charging stations are open 24/7 and there is no charge for their use.

Summary

In 2006 Burrowing Owl took its first step into renewable energy with an investment into solar hot water panels, equal to 38 solar electric panels, producing the equivalent of 53,100 kWh/year (*). The second step began in 2016 with the installation of 454 solar electric panels that will produce 180,000 kWh annually of free and clean electrical energy for the next 35-40 years.

By the end of 2017, the total contribution of solar energy at Burrowing Owl from the 492 hot water and PV solar panels will offset carbon emissions by 118.5 tons/year. It is estimated that the solar electricity produced by Burrowing Owl annually would power 22 average homes in BC.

Date                      Solar Site                             System Description        Annual Production          Carbon Offset
                                                                                                                                      (kWh/year)                 (tons of  CO2/yr)

2006     Guest House & Restaurant Roof          38 hot-water panels (*)                  53,100                                  27.1

2017      Winery – Crush Pad roof                       70 panels                                          25,300                                  12.9

2017      Winery – Parking lot                              108 bi-facial                                      54,000                                  27.5

2016      Osoyoos Staff House                             116 panels                                        42,000                                  21.4

2017      Oliver Warehouse                                  160 panels                                        58,000                                  29.6

Totals                                                                      492 PV panels                                  232,400                                118.5

Burrowing Owl is committed to continue its long-term pursuit of overall environmental sustainability.