Solar Energy

Energy from the sun to power the winery.
24,000 kWh produced per year, 130 tons of CO2 that is not released into the atmosphere.
Technology and agriculture at the service of reducing the greenhouse effect.

Since 2008, the winery produces electricity through solar panels installed on the rooftops. After a first experience of two years required to evaluate the efficiency of this system, in February 2010, the decision was reached to make the Ricci Curbastro Farm Estate Winery almost independent, from an energy viewpoint, through the installation of solar panels capable of producing up to 20 kWh.
The panels, which are perfectly integrated in the covering of winery rooftop, not only supply electricity, but also guarantee for further improvement in the isolation of the same covering by adding a second ventilated air space to the roof.
The panels will be able to supply approximately 24,000 kWh /year, 80% of the energy consumed in a year by the company, considering that the production of electricity, such as from methane, involves the production of 0.57 kg of CO2 (carbon dioxide), we can prevent about 130 tons of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere. CO2, or carbon dioxide, is an acid oxide formed by a carbon atom bonded to two oxygen atoms. It is a fundamental substance in the life processes of plants and animals and is also considered one of the main greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. In 2007, an amount of about 0.038% (≈ 381 ppm) in volume of carbon dioxide was measured in the Earth’s atmosphere.

Despite its small concentration, CO2 is a key component of the Earth’s atmosphere, since – along with water vapor and methane – it traps infrared radiation from sunlight, reflecting it back toward the Earth’s surface (the so-called greenhouse effect), preventing the earth from cooling. Volcanoes were the first sources of atmospheric carbon dioxide on the newly formed Earth. Thanks to this, a climate was created that was favorable for the development of life. Today, volcanoes release into the atmosphere about 130 to 230 million tons of carbon dioxide each year, but this amount represents less than 1% of the total amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by human activities, which amounts to 27 billion tons per year: 50,000 tons per minute.

The main method to dispose of huge amounts of carbon dioxide is the photosynthesis carried out by plants: this process involves light, carbon dioxide, and water that transform into oxygen and glucose. Therefore, this consists in planting and/or preserving forests: the simplest, most economic and spontaneous method, which practically occurs naturally on our planet, ever since the existence of plants. Another good reason for choosing to keep our vineyards unplowed, and plant trees and hedges (see chart on sustainable viticulture).