Drayton’s Family Wines at Pokolbin recently installed one of the Hunter’s largest solar power systems – a project expected to save the family-operated winery up to $83,000 a year in energy costs.
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For six generations Drayton’s has been producing some of the Hunter Valley’s finest wines, with the latest installation expected to lay the groundwork for future generations to continue the family legacy.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Bob Baldwin, visited the Pokolbin vineyard last Tuesday to switch on the company’s new 200-kilowatt solar power system.
“I congratulate Drayton’s Family Wines for investing in this large solar field array, and other energy saving measures,” Mr. Baldwin said.
“As well as helping the company’s bottom line, this investment is socially responsible as it is helping Australia reduce its carbon emissions.
“Drayton’s Family Winery expects the measures will reduce its emissions intensity by an impressive 68.5 per cent.”
The company’s general manager John Drayton said he hopes the $445,164 project – which was partly funded by a government grant of $222,582 – will encourage other wine producers in the region to invest in energy saving measures.
“The 800 solar panels we have installed have become a talking point in the region,” he said.
“Hopefully other wine producers will follow our example and realise that investments like this are good for business, as well as the environment.
“After a four-year payback period, we will be making substantial savings.
“We also hope to be able to increase production, which will help us meet our strategic goals, including increasing sales internationally, especially to China.”
The project was funded by the Clean Technology Food and Foundries Investment Program, which is closed to new applications.
In December 2013, the government released the Emissions Reduction Fund Green Paper.
The fund will help the government implement a practical policy to achieve emissions reductions; a policy that delivers benefits to Australian landholders and businesses to strengthen the economy.
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