The Vergelegen winery, with its new solar plant
The Vergelegen wine estate, in Somerset West, has installed a solar power plant that has taken it completely off the grid.
The plant includes six solar tables, comprising 500 panels that cover 1 400 m², three inverters and a 1 MWh battery. This will ensure the cellar can run on the battery during harvesting, even if there is no sun, the company says.
“While the difference in carbon emissions will be determined over time, the entire electricity bill for the cellar will be saved and the cellar will run 100% off the solar plant," says Vergelegen environmental project manager Eben Olderwagen.
He adds that the wine estate will, as a result of the new solar plant, no longer have to incur costs on diesel to run generators during loadshedding.
“Energy that is not used by the cellar will be pushed into the grid and be credited on the rest of the site’s account, saving money on electricity bills for the entire estate,” he points out.
“I believe sustainability and wine-making go hand in hand. Installing solar panels at our winery is not just a practical decision, it's a statement of our commitment to the environment and to producing exceptional wines. It's a win-win for our winery and the planet,” Vergelegen winemaker Luke O’Cuinneagain says.
The solar system was supplied and installed by LRG Solar.