A Hunter Valley wine producer says solar energy is delivering significant savings and stability at a time when electricity prices continue to rise across New South Wales.
Keith Tulloch Wines operations manager Alisdair Tulloch says the Pokolbin vineyard now runs about 72 per cent of its operations on solar, reducing annual electricity costs by more than 25 per cent since the system was installed in 2019. He said the benefits were immediate, particularly during harvest when refrigeration demands are at their highest.
“Our harvest is at the peak of summer when we’ve got heavy machinery running and huge refrigeration loads,” he said.
“The hotter the day, the more electricity we generate. So it works as a really good hedge against expensive power.”
Mr Tulloch said the business deliberately shifted more processing into daylight hours to maximise on‑site generation, allowing them to draw less from the grid overnight. Despite rising energy prices, he says the vineyard is still paying less for power today than it did five years ago.
The solar array is also helping maintain the company’s carbon‑neutral status, reducing emissions by about 100 tonnes of CO₂ each year.
He encouraged other vineyards and regional businesses to consider the switch.
“Solar companies can show you exactly what you’ll generate,” he said.
“For us, it’s been a no‑brainer. I’m more than happy to show neighbours the savings. It’s good for everyone.”
His comments come as a new Climate Council report warns gas and ageing coal generators continue to push up national power prices, while renewable energy remains the only factor bringing bills down.
