Casella Family Brands Switches On Largest Solar Facility In Australian Beverage Industry In Yenda

Casella Family Brands switched on the largest solar power facility in the Australian beverage sector on Tuesday, April 9 in its commitment to achieving Net-Zero emissions by 2050.

The facility will provide clean, renewable electricity to the company’s largest winemaking site in Yenda, home to the world-famous yellow tail wine.

Through a staggering 8730 solar panels, it is capable of generating 11.53 GWh of clean electricity per year, offsetting 7800 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, which is enough to meet the electricity needs of approximately 1900 Australian homes, or equivalent to planting 325,000 trees.

The new state-of-the-art solar facility is the first step in the company’s pathway to reducing Net-Zero GHG emissions by 50 per cent by 2030, and achieving 100 per cent by 2050.

Casella Family Brands has measured its Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions to outlinekey reduction areas.

The largest source of direct GHG emissions was identified as Scope 2 electricity at the Yenda site which makes up approximately 65 per cent of total Scope 2 electricity at the Yenda site which makes up approximately 65 per cent of total Scope 1 and 2 emissions.

The solar farm will provide approximately 35 per cent of the Yenda site’s electricity.

The site will use all the clean electricity the solar system produces, therefore reducing the company’s environmental impact.

The facility features a two-panel tracking system incorporating a smart algorithm that optimises the positioning of the solar panels to allow for maximum sun exposure and energy generation year-round.

As well as the winery, the facility will power Casella Family Brands’ on-site brewery, home of the AUstralian Beer Company and its brands including Yenda Brewing Co., Son of a Nun and Pressman’s Cider.

Casella Family Brands has also invested in a second solar system that will provide clean energy to power the wastewater treatment plant and is capable of generating 890.47 MWh of electricity per year.

Consisting of 936 panels it boasts 20-degree fixed tilt mounting selected for maximum generation and will contribute approximately 30 per cent of the facility’s electricity needs.

Founder and Managing Director of Casella Family Brands, John Casella said he was extremely proud to unveil their investment in clean electricity through the two new solar systems.

“As well as reducing our footprint, we are making a direct contribution to the Australian wine industry’s GHG emissions reduction goals via the products we make and supply, as we all strive to ensure a sustainable global wine sector,” Mr Casella said.

“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.

“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.”

Wine Australia released an Emissions Reduction Roadmap for the Australian grape and wine sector in September 2023.

Wine Australia CEO Martin Cole said Casella Family Brand’s new solar farm was another signal of the recognition from Australian grape and wine businesses to act now towards a lower carbon future for all.

“We know that sustainability is an increasingly high priority for consumers, and Casella’s strong actions to reduce their emissions are an extremely positive step towards the sector’s emissions reduction goals,” Mr Cole said. “This is an important investment for Casella and the Riverina region and supports the broarder sector’s work to safeguard the future of Australian wine.”

As well as utilising renewable energy, Casella Family Brands’ John Casella said the company was looking at other ways to improve its energy usage, including the optimisation of wastewater treatment and displacing traditional fuel with biogenic energy and waste from the production process.

“Our Net-Zero targets directly support global climate goals, as well as those of the Australian wine industry, our global customers and distributor partners,” Mr Casella said.

“This is also a positive step for our consumers as we know they increasingly care how the products and brands they purchase are made.”

Both solar facilities were developed and constructed by Australia’s leading engineering, procurement, and construction company Next Generation Electrical.

The large system is located 3.5km from the winery site in Yenda NSW.

With land holdings across the Riverina, Casella Family Brands was fortunate to have an 11-hectare (ha) plot that was not suitable for agricultural purposes and after a Biodiversity Assessment and Aboriginal Heritage Due Diligence Assessment, it was deemed well suited to host the solar farm development.

IMAGE: John Casella, CEO of Casella Family Brand at the company’s new solar facility in Yenda, NSW. Photographer credit: Vince Bucello.

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• Local Economy / Business