Pernod Ricard Winemakers going 100% renewable energy

By the middle of next year, 2019, Pernod Ricard Winemakers will be sourcing all of its electricity from renewable sources.

The company has just celebrated the official ‘switch-on’ of 1 MW of solar-generated electricity at its Barossa Valley Winery, marking the first completed stage of the company’s massive 2.8 MW solar installation project.

When completed in mid-2019, this will be the largest combined winery solar installation in Australia and will supply 20% of the business’s annual electricity usage.

Working with AGL Energy, the solar installation is expected to generate around 4000 MWh of renewable electricity in the first year, which is equivalent to the electricity consumed annually in approximately 800 South Australian homes.

To reach 100% renewable electricity, Pernod Ricard Winemakers has signed a 10-year virtual generation agreement (VGA) with wholesale electricity retailer Flow Power, to connect the business with renewable electricity sources. The business will be the first in South Australia that is connected to both off-site wind and solar farms.

This means the remaining 80% of the business’s annual electricity requirement will be met by solar and wind for the next 10 years through Flow Power.

The commitment to its own solar project combined with the VGA will allow Pernod Ricard Winemakers Australia to achieve its ambition to source 100% renewable electricity well ahead of its original plans.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Romolo Tavani