In a significant move towards sustainability, the largest winery solar panel system in Australia has been activated in the Barossa Valley. The Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) winery production center now boasts almost 6,000 solar panels, which will generate over 5,000 megawatt-hours of energy annually. This amount of energy is equivalent to powering approximately 900 households.
The installation of these solar panels also means that renowned South Australian wine brands such as Penfolds, Wynns, and Pepperjack will be on track to meet TWE’s goal of producing wines using 100% renewable electricity by the end of 2024.
Kerrin Petty, Chief Supply and Sustainability Officer at TWE, mentioned that solar panels have been installed not only at the winery production center but also at other wineries, packaging facilities, and vineyards owned by the company across the Barossa Valley. This strategic placement includes rooftops and car parks to ensure accessibility of energy for electronic vehicles as the company moves forward.
Petty stated, “A majority of our carbon is generated through electricity usage, so as we work towards being net zero by 2030, it made a lot of sense to expedite our efforts into electricity offsets.”
The Barossa Valley is committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions, and Scott Hazeldine, CEO at Barossa Australia, expressed the significance of TWE’s project in inspiring other producers in the region. Hazeldine emphasized the importance of genuine application and commitment from grape growers and wine makers to drive sustainability efforts.
The Sustainable Wine Growing Australia Program, a collaboration between the Australian Wine Research Institute, Wine Australia, and Australian Grape and Wine, has played a vital role in promoting sustainability in the industry. The program assists grape growers and winemakers in improving sustainability in their vineyards and wineries. There has been substantial interest from members, with approximately 9,000 hectares out of 14,000 hectares in the region now certified.
The implementation of the winery solar panel system in the Barossa Valley is a significant step towards achieving renewable energy goals and reducing carbon emissions in the wine industry.
