Commercial Solar › Farms & Wineries
Farms · Wineries · Ranches · 50 kW and upFarm Power Bills Climbing? Put Your Open Land to Work
Irrigation pumps, cold storage and crush season run up big bills on California agricultural rate plans. A ground mount on land you aren't farming, or solar on a barn or shop roof, can cut those bills for decades. Solar With Watts and the Mars commercial team work with farms and wineries near you across PG&E, SCE, SDG&E and SMUD territory.
Timing matters: new commercial solar projects must be in service by December 31, 2027 to qualify for the federal tax credit.
- Ground, roof or carportSystems sized for pumps, cold rooms and shops
- Built by MarsMars Home Solutions' commercial team designs and installs
- Starts with your billsShare 12 months of bills for a no-cost review
What should California farm and winery owners know about solar?
If you run a California farm, ranch, orchard or winery with big power bills, start with these three answers.
Is solar worth it for a farm in California?
Yes, for many farms and wineries. Pumps, cold storage and processing use a lot of power, and solar makes the most during the same sunny months.
Can I put solar panels on land I farm?
Yes. Many farms place it on ground they aren't farming, like field edges or poor soil. Barn, shop and equipment shed roofs work too, so no crop land is lost.
Who installs farm solar near me in California?
Solar With Watts reviews your farm and your bills. The Mars commercial team then handles design, permits, installation and utility interconnection.
How do California agricultural rates charge farms for power?
Most California farms pay time-of-use agricultural rates. Power costs the most in the late afternoon and evening. Larger accounts also pay demand charges, which are based on your highest power draw, not just your total use.
Every major utility has its own ag plans, but they work the same basic way. Here's how PG&E, SCE, SDG&E and SMUD set them up for farms, orchards, ranches and wineries.
| Utility | Ag rate plans | Highest-cost hours | Demand charges |
|---|---|---|---|
| PG&E | AG-A1 and AG-A2 (under 35 kW), AG-B and AG-C (35 kW and up), and AG-F for farms that can limit run days | 5 to 8 PM, every day of the year | Billed on measured demand. AG-C adds a summer peak demand charge. PG&E ag rate guide |
| SCE | TOU-PA-2 (under 200 kW) and TOU-PA-3 (200 to 500 kW) | You choose 4 to 9 PM or 5 to 8 PM | Option D adds time-related and facilities demand charges. Option E has higher energy prices and a facilities charge only. SCE ag and pumping rates |
| SDG&E | TOU-PA (20 kW or less), TOU-PA2 and TOU-PA3 (over 20 kW), and PA-T-1 (over 500 kW) | Peak pricing event days run 4 to 9 PM | TOU-PA2, TOU-PA3 and PA-T-1 include demand charges, including summer on-peak. SDG&E ag rate table |
| SMUD | ASN and ASD, plus optional time-of-day plans AON and AOD (under 499 kW) | Time-of-day plans: summer weekdays 2 to 8 PM. Winter weekdays 7 to 10 AM and 5 to 8 PM | ASD has a site infrastructure charge above 30 kW. AOD adds a maximum demand charge. SMUD Rate Schedule AG |
Plan names, thresholds and hours come from each utility's published agricultural rate materials. Community choice providers like Pioneer or Sonoma Clean Power supply the power on some farms, but the utility still sets these delivery plans.
Why one pump can set your demand charge
A demand charge is based on your highest draw during the billing month. PG&E's rule of thumb is that 1 horsepower equals about 0.75 kilowatts.
100 hp pump ≈ 75 kW
Run it alongside your cooling or other equipment, and that one short stretch can set the demand charge for the entire month. Some demand charges count any hour. Others count only the peak window.
How farms push back on these charges
- Solar covers daytime pumping and cooling with power you make yourself.
- Battery storage can carry loads through the evening peak, after the sun drops.
- Smart scheduling moves pumping into lower-cost hours where your crops allow it.
- The right rate plan matters too. Adding solar can change which plan costs you least, so your review compares them.
Solar alone won't erase every demand charge. A cloudy afternoon or a pump start near sunset can still set a peak. That's why we look at storage and scheduling together.
Where can solar go on a California farm or winery?
Many farms have more than one good spot. The strongest sites sit close to the meter they will serve and off the ground you farm. Here's how the four main options compare.
| Option | Often works for | What it uses | What to check first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground mount | Orchards, row crops, ranches and vineyards with spare acreage | Field edges, poor soil or ground you aren't farming | Distance to the meter, soil, drainage and county land use rules, especially if the land is under a Williamson Act contract |
| Barn, shop or packing house roof | Farms with large metal or newer roofs | Roof space you already have | Roof age and whether the structure can carry the added weight |
| Equipment shade or carport | Equipment yards, truck parking and winery visitor lots | Parking or storage areas, with shade below | Clearance for tractors and trucks, foundations and traffic flow |
| Battery storage | Cold storage, processing and evening pumping | Space near your electrical equipment | Your load pattern, rate plan and which loads need backup |
Keep your best ground in production
Corners, slopes and poor soil often make the best spots for a ground mount. Your review starts with a site map, so prime ground stays in crops.
Wineries: put the visitor lot to work
A solar carport shades guests' cars and the tasting room parking area. It can also help power winery buildings on the same meter.
Check the roof before the panels
Some older ag buildings weren't built for extra weight. If a barn roof is old or light, a ground mount or carport may be the better choice.
Which farm and winery loads does solar help with most?
Solar works hardest when it powers equipment you run anyway. Your review looks at when each load runs, then sizes solar and storage around it.
Irrigation and well pumps
Pumping often peaks in the hot, sunny months, when solar makes the most power. If you pump at night today to dodge peak prices, solar may let you move some pumping back into daylight.
Best fit: solarCold storage and refrigeration
Coolers run around the clock, including the evening peak. Solar carries the daytime load, and a battery can carry the cooling load after sunset.
Best fit: solar + storageProcessing, packing and crush
Harvest and crush season brings heavy loads in late summer and fall. Presses, pumps, chillers and lighting all stack up during the busiest weeks of the year.
Best fit: solar + demand controlShops, offices and tasting rooms
Lights, compressors, HVAC and point of sale add steady daytime use. These smaller loads are often on separate meters, so your review maps each one.
Best fit: roof or carport solarWhy sizing to your own use matters
Under today's California solar rules, including net billing at PG&E, SCE and SDG&E, power you send back to the grid earns much less than power you use yourself. So we size the system to the loads you actually run, not to the biggest array that fits. See how net billing works.
Where storage earns its spot
A battery stores midday solar for the evening peak and can trim the spikes that set demand charges. It can also keep critical loads like coolers running during an outage, if it's set up for backup.
Can one solar system cover several meters on a farm?
Sometimes, but the rules changed. Many farms have separate meters for pumps, shops, houses and processing. How solar can serve them depends on where each meter sits and which program is open today.
NEM Aggregation
This program let farms combine several meters under one solar system. The CPUC voted to end it in November 2023, and many farms had used it to go solar.
Net Billing Tariff Aggregation (NBT-A)
The replacement at PG&E, SCE and SDG&E covers meters on contiguous or adjacent property. SMUD farms follow SMUD's own rules. It doesn't work like the old program, so it isn't always the best design. Often, solar placed right at the meter with the biggest daytime load does more for you.
How your review maps your meters
- List every meterWe match each meter to what it serves, from pumps and coolers to shops and houses.
- Find the big loadsYour 12 months of bills show which meters cost the most and when.
- Pick the designOne system at your largest meter, several smaller ones, or NBT-A if it truly helps.
Already have solar on part of the farm? Adding panels can affect an older system's billing status. We check that first. In some cases, a non-export design can add power without changing what you already have.
Have several meters? Send your bills and we'll map them for you at no cost.
Get a Free Farm Energy ReviewSources: Agri-Pulse on the CPUC's NEM Aggregation decision and the California Assembly analysis of NBT-A.
What deadline and incentives apply to farm solar right now?
The biggest one is a date. New commercial solar projects, including farm projects, must be in service by the end of 2027 to qualify for the federal tax credit. Other farm programs have changed too, so here's where each one stands.
Federal tax credit: in service by
December 31, 2027
This applies to solar projects that started construction after July 4, 2026. The project has to be built, connected and running by that date, not just signed. See IRS Notice 2025-42.
Why farms should start early
- Larger systems need engineering, county permits and utility interconnection before they can run.
- Ground mounts may need trenching and land use review.
- Harvest season can limit when crews can work on your property.
- Mars confirms the equipment and timing rules for your specific project.
| Program | Status | What it means for your farm |
|---|---|---|
| Federal clean electricity tax credit | Open, with a deadline | New projects must be in service by December 31, 2027. Your tax advisor confirms how it applies to your operation. |
| USDA REAP grants | Changed October 2026 | Ground-mounted solar on farmland no longer qualifies. Roof systems may still qualify, but you apply after the system is built, with 12 months of data. Grants cover up to 25% of cost. Details |
| NEM Aggregation | Closed | Replaced by NBT-A for meters on contiguous property. See the meters section above. |
| PG&E demand response | Open | PG&E's Emergency Load Reduction Program pays $2 per kWh for cutting use during grid emergencies, with no penalties. A battery can help you take part. PG&E ag guide |
This page isn't tax advice. Talk with your tax professional about how the credit applies to your farm. Have a farmhouse on the property too? Home programs are on our California solar incentives page.
How can a farm or winery pay for solar?
There are three main paths, and the right one depends on your cash flow, your taxes and whether you want to own the system. Mars reviews each project and confirms which options it qualifies for.
Cash purchase
You own the system from day one. Every kilowatt-hour it makes is yours, and you can claim any tax benefits your operation qualifies for.
Bank financing
You still own the system, but you spread the cost over time. Terms depend on your lender and your operation's finances.
Power purchase agreement
A third party owns the system and you buy the power it makes, often with little or nothing upfront. Offered on select projects.
| Option | Who owns it | Upfront cost | Who claims the tax credit | Often a fit if |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | Your farm | Full system price | Your farm, if it qualifies | You have capital and tax liability to use |
| Bank financing | Your farm | Down payment set by your lender | Your farm, if it qualifies | You want ownership without tying up cash |
| PPA | The PPA provider | Often little or none | The PPA provider | You'd rather buy power than own equipment |
All options are reviewed case by case. Ask your tax professional how ownership and the tax credit work for your farm before you choose.
How do I get a free farm energy review?
Fill out the short form with your property details. There's no cost, and you don't need your bills to start.
How it works
- Ed reviews your farmHe looks at your property, your meters and your utility to see if 50 kW or more makes sense.
- You share 12 months of billsThat shows which meters cost the most and when your big loads run.
- Mars designs your optionsThe Mars commercial team reviews your site, then lays out system and payment options.
- Mars builds and connects itThey handle engineering, permits, installation and utility interconnection, working around your season.
Helpful to have: a rough idea of your pump horsepower, how many meters you have, and any land or roof space you'd consider using.
Prefer to Talk? Book a CallFarm and winery solar questions, answered
Straight answers to what California growers and winery owners ask most.
Is solar worth it for a farm in California?
Yes, for many farms and wineries. Pumps, cold storage and processing use a lot of power on agricultural rates. Solar makes the most power in the same sunny months. Your free review checks your bills to confirm.
How big does a farm solar system need to be?
Our commercial program starts at 50 kilowatts. That's roughly 120 panels, depending on the equipment used. Smaller farms and farmhouses can use our home solar program instead.
Can I put solar panels on land I farm?
Yes. Many farms use field edges, corners or poor soil instead of crop ground. Check county land use rules first, especially if the land is under a Williamson Act contract.
Can solar power my irrigation pumps?
Yes. The system connects at the meter that serves your pumps and offsets that meter's use on your bill. Pumping in daylight makes the best use of your solar.
Will solar lower my demand charges?
Sometimes, but not on its own. A cloudy afternoon or a pump start near sunset can still set your monthly peak. Battery storage and pump scheduling help control those charges.
Can one solar system cover several meters on my farm?
Sometimes. NEM Aggregation is closed to new projects. At PG&E, SCE and SDG&E, Net Billing Tariff Aggregation covers meters on contiguous property, but it works differently. Often a system at your biggest meter does more.
What is the deadline for the federal solar tax credit on farm projects?
December 31, 2027. Commercial solar projects that start construction after July 4, 2026 must be in service by then. Talk with your tax professional about how it applies to your farm.
Can I still get a USDA REAP grant for farm solar?
Not for ground-mounted solar on farmland. Those projects stopped qualifying on October 16, 2026. Rooftop systems may still qualify, but you apply after the system is built and running.
How do farms pay for commercial solar?
Three ways: cash, bank financing or a power purchase agreement. With cash or a loan, your farm owns the system. With a PPA, a third party owns it and you buy the power.
Who installs farm and winery solar in California?
The Mars Home Solutions commercial team. Solar With Watts reviews your farm and your bills first. Mars then handles design, permits, installation and utility interconnection.
Not a 50 kW farm project? Start here instead
Smaller farm or the farmhouse
Under 50 kW, or just want solar for the house? Our home program fits better. See your system size in about 2 minutes.
Solar Panel EstimatorBackup power for the house
Worried about outages at the farmhouse? See how long a home battery would keep your essentials running.
Powerwall CalculatorAnother kind of business
Warehouse, office, retail, church or school? Our commercial solar page covers every building type we serve.
Commercial SolarPut your open land to work before the 2027 deadline
Send us your farm details and we'll tell you if solar, storage or both make sense, with no cost and no pressure.
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