By Andy Young
Hunter Valley winemaker Tyrrell's Wines is nearly ready to switch on a 350kW solar power installation thanks to Sunlease, a solar leasing company.
Sunlease, which is part of the Solgen Group will own the solar installation and will sell the output to Tyrrell's at a fixed cost for the term of the agreement. It is expected the solar system will offset a significant portion of Tyrrell's electricity for the vineyard operating infrastructure, saving the company around 26 per cent against standard utility costs.
Managing director of Tyrrell’s Wines, Bruce Tyrrell said: "We are very happy to add another milestone to the Tyrrell's history book with the installation of the solar power system at the vineyard. Renewable energy is something we feel very strongly about, and we are happy to be able to keep on producing award-winning wines, powered by the sun.
"Through a purchase power agreement with Sunlease, I did not pay any up-front fees for the installation of the system. I can also look forward to paying a fixed amount per kWh for the winery's energy consumption for the next 20 years. In my view, this is a stable opportunity for the business."
Sunlease director David Naismith said the company is "proud to have worked directly with Tyrrell's Wines on such an iconic project for the industry".
"As a group, we continue to pursue opportunities for our customers that make financial sense over the long-term. Through Sunlease, we're investing in on-site solar power generation for our customers so they can purchase power at fixed rates, lower than the grid. The long-term savings potential is enormous."
Tyrrell's joins other wineries including Peter Lehmann Wines, d’Arenberg winery in the McLaren Vale and the De Bortoli winery near Griffith in NSW in going solar.
The official opening of the solar power system will take place on Friday, 5 June 2015, at the Tyrrell's Wines Vineyard in Pokolbin, NSW.
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