Yellow Tail wine maker Casella Family Brands has switched on the largest solar power facility in the Australian beverage industry.
The solar facility is located in Yenda, NSW and demonstrates the company’s commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The facility, composed of 8730 solar panels, can generate up to 11.53 GWh of clean electricity per year and will be used to provide 35 per cent of the energy requirements of the company’s largest winemaking site in Yenda.
According to the company, it identified Scope 2 electricity at the Yenda site as its largest direct GHG emissions source, making up about 65 per cent of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.
The facility will also power the company’s on-site brewery, home of Australian Beer Company’s brands. The solar equipment is expected to offset 7800 tonnes of GHG emissions.
In addition, the company invested in a second solar power system with 936 panels and a capacity to generate 890.47 MWh of electricity per year.
The second solar facility will provide about 30 per cent of the wastewater treatment plant’s electricity needs.
“As a family-owned business, we’re committed to playing a role in ensuring the resilience of the Australian wine industry for generations to come,” Casella Family Brands managing director John Casella said.
“This includes investing in the regions where we operate, supporting our growers during challenging market conditions and making strategic decisions to ensure our business is set up for long-term success.”
The company targets to reduce GHG emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050.
