SolarWorld Americas has supplied 14.2 kW of its panels for the off-grid house that California Governor Jerry Brown is building northwest of Sacramento. The Brown’s new home is an off-grid, single-story, 2,674 square-foot ranch house powered by a solar+SimpliPhi storage microgrid

West Coast Sustainables, a SolarWorld-authorized installer, has installed the solar-based power system at a rural location miles from the closest grid power. Aside from solar panels and inverters, the system includes charge controllers, lithium-ion batteries and a backup generator.

Jason Andrade, owner of West Coast Sustainables, said virtually all system components were made in America. The solar panels were made at SolarWorld Americas’ headquarters campus in Oregon.

“I tried to buy exclusively products made in the United States,” Andrade said. “I also chose best-in-class components. SolarWorld solar panels have the demonstrated track record to offer the reliability and endurance that such a system requires. Living 100% off-grid, the Browns should be able to count on this system for a very long time.”

The pole-mount arrays, which can act as shade structures for outdoor gatherings, will power the property’s main house, guest house and two barns. Andrade said the property was purchased by Brown’s great grandfather in 1878 and served for many years as a prominent stagecoach stop and hotel. It will soon be the residence of the governor and his wife, Anne.

The Rancho Venada microgrid is comprised of 48 solar panels feeding renewable power into ten SimpliPhi PHI 3.4-kWh, 48-V batteries. A 24-kWh natural gas backup system is also installed for days when sunlight is limited.

“We chose the combination of SimpliPhi batteries and Outback Power because of the ability to easily expand the system when future ranch improvements demand more power, and because we trust the proven track record of both companies,” said Andrade.

News item from SolarWorld and SimpliPhi Power