Bundaberg Rum has installed a 160kW solar panel system as part of its efforts to achieve net zero emissions in its direct operations by 2030.
Located on the roof of Bundaberg’s Visitor Experience Centre and car park, the solar panels are expected to help reduce electricity consumption by an estimated 260-megawatt hours annually and save around 200 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.
The company added that the site uses Green Power from the National Green Power Accreditation Program for its remaining energy requirements.
Duncan Littler, marketing and experience manager at Bundaberg Rum, told Food and Drink Business that adding the solar panel system was a positive step to making the distillery’s operations more sustainable.
“This is a plan underpinned by firm targets; it’s the equivalent of the electricity required to charge almost 25 million smartphones,” said Littler.
Bundaberg MP Tom Smothi added that as the solar capital of Australia, Bundaberg has more than 15,600 households with solar panels installed across the region.
“Bundaberg residents and now our iconic Bundaberg Rum Distillery continue to fly the flag for Bundy, and this move will help drive down carbon emissions and greatly reduce the cost of electricity used at the distillery,” Smothi concluded.
