Photovoltaics Instead of Gas in South Tyrol
Energy Transition at the Winery
Winery cuts gas use with solar heat: my-PV enables smart water heating via surplus PV energy in South Tyrol.
Facts about the project
- Owner/Planner/Installer
- Location
- Photovoltaic output and orientation
- Building type
- Year of construction and size
- Heat storage size
- Inverter and battery storage
- my-PV product
- System control
)
Nestled in the picturesque wine-growing region of South Tyrol, not far from Bolzano, lies the historic Carlotto Ferruccio winery, originally established in 1839. Today, the family-run estate is embracing sustainability: a 13.2 kWp photovoltaic system now supplies the commercial building with solar electricity – regularly generating surplus energy.
These surpluses are now being put to good use, especially for heat generation. The winery has a consistently high demand for hot water: five employees regularly use the on-site sanitary facilities, and the production process also requires a steady supply of hot water. With rising gas prices, the existing gas boiler had become an economically unsustainable solution.
What was the way to my-PV?
Through the South Tyrolean company Sun Tech, the owners became aware of the AC•THOR from my-PV. This photovoltaic power manager, which regulates power output continuously from 0 to 3 kW, is designed for domestic hot water, electric heat sources, and optionally for space heating. It controls electric heating elements based on the availability of PV energy and the actual heat demand – making it perfectly suited to the winery’s specific requirements.
Personal customer opinion and resumee
The owners are convinced:
“In the South Tyrolean lowlands, we have many hours of sunshine in summer. At the same time, our hot water demand increases significantly as autumn approaches. With my-PV, we can now use this energy efficiently – it was the most obvious solution.”
And the long-term goal is also clear:
“I’m a big fan of photovoltaics. With the hot water system, we’ve taken the first step. Next, we want to convert our kitchen to electric and later add a heat pump. Our goal is a sustainable operation – from growing the grapes to processing them and everything that goes along with it.”
Optimal conditions for solar heat: Successful retrofit at a winery
The PV system was installed across multiple roof surfaces to make optimal use of east-, west-, and south-facing orientations. To maximize efficiency, power optimizers from Huawei were also integrated. The surplus electricity is now intelligently used by the AC•THOR to heat domestic hot water for the winery’s facilities. Thanks to the open-system architecture of my-PV solutions, the device was seamlessly integrated into the existing infrastructure. The existing battery storage and inverter from Huawei—one of over 80 my-PV compatibility partners — work smoothly with the AC•THOR. Using Modbus TCP, the system receives all relevant surplus data and automatically starts heat generation once the battery storage is fully charged.
A key advantage in this project was the simplicity of communication between the AC•THOR and the inverter, which only required a network connection. Since the hot water tank and the PV system are located in different buildings, this network solution eliminated the need for complex and costly wiring— an undeniable plus for the overall implementation.
Were there any obstacles in the installation?
The installation of the my-PV device proceeded without any technical issues. The only additional effort involved was the extensive documentation required for participation in the Italian Agrisolar grant program. However, this effort paid off: 80% of the total investment was covered by government funding, allowing the system – including battery storage – to pay for itself within just two years.
People in the household and hot water demand
A total of five people are permanently employed at the winery, all of whom regularly use the on-site shower facilities. In addition, there is a continuous demand for hot water in the wine cellar and the outdoor areas. Daily consumption ranges between 150 and 190 liters, with a significant increase during the grape harvest in autumn. During this period, the higher hot water demand coincides with particularly strong PV yields – typical for the sun-rich climate of South Tyrol’s lowlands. The surplus energy produced during these peak months is used efficiently and directly for water heating.
Initial Assessment and Outlook
The exact energy savings will continue to be monitored during ongoing operation. However, an initial estimate already shows a reduction in energy consumption for hot water by around 40% – despite the rather small 200-liter storage tank.
The owners are convinced:
“In the South Tyrolean lowlands, we have many hours of sunshine in summer. At the same time, our hot water demand increases significantly as autumn approaches. With my-PV, we can now use this energy efficiently – it was the most obvious solution.”
And the long-term goal is also clear:
“I’m a big fan of photovoltaics. With the hot water system, we’ve taken the first step. Next, we want to convert our kitchen to electric and later add a heat pump. Our goal is a sustainable operation – from growing the grapes to processing them and everything that goes along with it.”
)
)
)
)
)
)
AC•THOR
in use
Simple & efficient: AC•THOR controls electrical heat sources depending on the availability of PV energy and heat demand. And that for both hot water, as well as for space heating.
More infos about AC•THORMore Reference Projects
)
A resourceful Upper Bavarian benefits from the renovation of his house and implements PV heat as blackout precaution.
Read more...)
The newly built single-family home impresses with environmentally friendly construction and innovative heating technology.
Read more...)
A Polish homeowner is responding to the conditions on the Polish PV market with the AC•THOR 9s.
Read more...