Winemaker inks hybrid renewable PPA

One of the nation’s largest vineyard owners, Australian Vintage, has announced a major hybrid renewable corporate PPA, based on which it will ensure 90% of its power at its Buronga Hill Winery is met by solar and wind for the next 10 years.

November 27, 2018 Marija Maisch

Electricity is the single biggest cost incurred in the winemaking process.

Image: Pixabay/qimono

Corporate PPAs in Australia have been on the rise, as large businesses started moving toward renewables to ensure certainty of supply and pricing.

The latest to join this investment trend is Australian Vintage, which has inked a hybrid renewable power purchase agreement with corporate retailer Flow Power.

The producers of award winning brands McGuigan Wines, Tempus Two and Nepenthe will power the third largest facility in Australia, NSW-based Buronga Hill Winery, by existing onsite solar – 2 MW solar array installed by Todae Solar – and offsite wind and solar.

“We are proud to be one of the first businesses to sign a hybrid Renewable Corporate PPA in Australia. This is a considerable milestone for the business which, as one of the biggest producers in Australia, operates at a scale that can deliver significant environmental benefits as a result of its green policies,” said Australian Vintage Chief Executive Officer, Neil McGuigan.

Flow Power said its hybrid PPA idea was born in brainstorming how to best deliver power to businesses, which meant matching wind and solar together, so that when the sun is not shining, the wind can step in to do the work.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Australian Vintage on this landmark deal. The team have aligned the profiles of the wind farm, solar plant and on-site solar at the Buronga Hill winery to create a solution that will meet its power needs for the next ten years,” Flow Power Managing Director Matthew van der Linden said.

Australia’s largest solar PPA contracting for 88 MW was inked earlier this year by Bluescope Steel with ESCO Pacific to cover 20% of its electricity requirements over seven years from NSW’s Finley Solar Project. Other notable ones were signed by Simec Zen Energy and Australian brewer CUB, as well as the University of New South Wales, which is seeking to become 100% solar powered.

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