Yalumba installs largest solar panel installation in Australia

Yalumba has installed the largest solar photovoltaic system installation at an Australian winery.

Hot on the heels of the news that Yealands had installed over 1,300 solar panels at its winery – the largest number at a winery in New Zealand – Yalumba has installed over 5,300 at three of its sites in Barossa Valley.

The 5,384 panels will be split between Yalumba’s Angaston winery, Oxford Landing winery and its nursery.

Nick Waterman, managing director of Yalumba, said: “This installation has been the result of a strong, collaborative effort between the Yalumba engineering team and AGL over the last 18 months. It is an exciting project and one that will deliver us significant savings as well as being consistent with our corporate focus on sustainability.

“For more than 166 years, Yalumba has been dedicated to reducing our impact on the environment, believing that we are the custodians of the land and have a responsibility to pass it to future generations in good order. This installation is another important chapter in our sustainability journey.”

Andy Vesey, managing director of AGL Energy, added: “As Australia’s largest private owner, operator and developer of renewable energy generation we welcome the opportunity to help Yalumba enhance its already impressive track record of sustainability. The solar system is expected to help Yalumba reduce its energy costs by approximately 20 percent each year and will produce approximately 2,000 MWh of renewable energy. This renewable energy generation will abate more than 1,100 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually, which is the equivalent of taking more than 340 cars off the road.”

The installation of the solar panels began in August of this year and is expected to be complete at all three sites by this December.