Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) will install 9500 solar panels at its two largest Australian wineries and plans to install 29,000 panels in its estates and vineyards across the globe.
The installation in the Barossa Valley in South Australia and Karadoc in Victoria is on track to be completed this year, and means wines including Penfolds, Wolf Blass, Wynns, Squealing Pig and Pepperjack will be produced using 100 per cent renewable energy by 2024.
The company says the solar panels are expected to generate around 5500 megawatt-hours of electricity per year, the equivalent of powering 900 homes.
TWE Chief Sustainability and External Affairs Officer Kirsten Gray said moving to 100 per cent renewable electricity was the most significant contribution the company could make on its way towards net zero.
“Electricity makes up about 70 per cent of our scope one and two emissions, so switching to renewables is the single biggest and quickest action we can take to reduce emissions,” Gray said.
“It paves the way to meet our target of net zero direct emissions by 2030 and forms the foundation for future innovation and resilience. Cultivating a brighter future for everyone means taking action and leading the industry to produce cleaner, greener wine that’s enjoyed by consumers all over the world.”
TWE’s solar initiative was developed in partnership with Shell Energy.
Shell Energy Australia CEO Greg Joiner said TWE, with close to 13,000 hectares of vineyards all over the world, has an opportunity to “shape how the wine industry navigates the energy transition”.
“TWE’s investment… ensures it has a clear and considered pathway to achieving its global sustainability goals. Shell Energy’s expertise in end-to-end low carbon solutions means the plan incorporates emissions reduction across the wine company’s operations: from the cellar door to offices, packaging centres and vineyards,” Joiner said.
TWE’s Melbourne, Victoria and Napa Valley, California headquarters run on renewable electricity. Last year, the company joined RE100, a global renewable power initiative that aims to accelerate the transition to a clean economy.