By Daniela Carlucci
Ferngrove Wines has installed one of Australia’s largest solar power systems at its Frankland River winery in Western Australia.
The new system, delivered by Great Southern Solar, will produce an average of 341,000 kWh of power a year – enough to power 60 households with 100 per cent renewable energy.
The $900,000 project was funded with dollar-for-dollar help from AusIndustry’s Clean Technology Food and Foundries program.
Ferngrove’s managing director, Anthony Wilkes, said the company was pleased to be a leader in the use of renewable energy.
“Our mission to preserve, honour and express our pristine Frankland River location means that championing sustainability has always been part of the fabric at Ferngrove,” he said.
“This initiative makes our production processes even cleaner and friendlier, with immediate and long lasting benefits for the environment.” [continued below]
Great Southern Solar manager, Don Anderson, said others should follow Ferngrove’s lead in its commitment to sustainability.
“It has been a privilege to work on this project for Ferngrove, and to help them reduce their reliance on emission-intensive black coal. It’s a best-in-class case study for others to emulate,” he said.
Ferngrove also uses harvested rainfall to provide supplementary irrigation to its vines and has allowed the area's native flora to regenerate, improving natural biodiversity.