Casella Family Brands, one of Australia’s largest family-owned wineries, has unveiled a solar farm powered by Trinasolar near its production site in Yenda, New South Wales.
The 5.7 megawatts (MW) project marks a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions in the wine sector.
The multi-million-dollar solar farm comprises 8730 TrinaSolar low-voltage Vertex 650-655W (DEG21C.20) bifacial modules, mounted on approximately one hundred TrinaTracker Vanguard 2P trackers.
This setup is capable of generating 11.53 gigawatts-hour (GWh) of electricity annually. This output will fulfil approximately 35 per cent of the power needs of the Yenda facility, which processes and bottles the majority of Casella Family Brands’ portfolio, including the world-renowned [yellow tail] wine.
What sets this solar farm apart is its use of cutting-edge technology. It’s the first in the entire Asia Pacific region to fully integrate Trinasolar’s Vanguard 2P trackers with large format low voltage 650-655W modules.
This combination results in significant savings on electrical components and installation labor, as well as a notable reduction in the levelised cost of energy (LCOE). The ability to mount more large-size modules in longer electrical strings on each tracker increases overall generation capacity.
The project aligns with the Australian wine industry’s broader sustainability goals. In the 2020-21 financial year, the sector emitted more than 1.77 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. Wine Australia aims to reduce emissions across the supply chain by 42 per cent by 2030 through increased use of renewable electricity.
Flaminio Dondina, General Manager – Procurement – Distribution – Strategy at Casella Family Brands, emphasised the importance of solar energy in their sustainability strategy.
“Solar energy is the most significant contributor to achieving our net-zero emissions pathway. When we decided to build a large solar farm to generate clean electricity for our production site, we wanted to partner with a leading manufacturer able to provide best-in-class, innovative solutions,” Dondina said.
“Trinasolar pioneers solar technologies that are continuously evolving to meet the needs of the market. For our project, they designed Australia’s largest 2-panel tracking system and supplied both the tracking system and the solar panels. Trinasolar’s support has been instrumental in achieving a successful outcome.”
Edison Zhou, Head of Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands at Trinasolar Asia Pacific, highlighted the company’s pride in supporting this landmark project.
“Trinasolar is proud to support Casella Family Brands on this landmark project together with engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) provider Next Generation Electrical (NGE),” Zhou said.
“Our cutting-edge solar solutions, coupled with innovative tracking technology, have enabled Casella Family Brands to harness the power of the sun on an unprecedented scale. This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to driving sustainable development and reshaping the future of renewable energy in Australia,”
By harnessing Trinasolar’s market-leading solutions, Casella Family Brands said this sets a new standard for sustainability within the beverage industry, reaffirming its commitment to environmental stewardship and paving the way for a greener tomorrow.
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