Load shedding has severely impacted South Africa’s centuries-old wine industry, disrupting every stage from irrigation to bottling.
However, a solution lies in the country’s abundant solar resources, with an average of 2500 hours of sunshine and 220 watts per square meter of solar radiation per day.
Harnessing this renewable energy source is crucial for ensuring uninterrupted production and preserving the quality of South Africa’s world-renowned wines.
A visionary approach
The Sadie Family Wines, nestled in South Africa’s Swartland region, is renowned for producing some of the finest wines in the country.
Spread across 24 hectares of diverse terroir, including mountainous plots and coastal plains, the vineyards are cultivated organically and biodynamically.
Eben Sadie, considered one of the great preservationists and visionaries among the new generation of South African winemakers, recognised the need for a reliable and sustainable power solution.
With South Africa’s ongoing power generation challenges and frequent outages, transitioning to solar energy became essential.
Embracing renewable energy
Initially, Eben Sadie invested in solar energy in 2001 with the installation of grid-tied inverters.
“Experiencing two or three power outages a day forces all systems to constantly start and stop, which is harmful to energy infrastructure and electrical equipment,” Sadie said.
To address this challenge, Sadie Family Wines upgraded to an ATESS 250 kilowatts (kW) and 500 kilowatt-hour energy storage system, featuring a PCS250 battery inverter and an ATESS lithium battery system.
Complemented by a 130kW PV system, this setup ensures an uninterrupted power supply, crucial for maintaining the quality and consistency of winemaking processes.
Energy security and sustainability
“Power is an expensive resource, and with the uncertainty surrounding its future cost and availability, we needed a solution that provided security and stability. The solar system investment has granted us continuous power generation and storage, allowing uninterrupted business operations even during load shedding,” Sadie said.
The benefits extend beyond operational stability.
The system generates an estimated 711 megawatt-hour of power annually, reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 720 tons.
This not only aligns with global sustainability goals but also reinforces the Sadie Family Wines’ commitment to environmentally conscious winemaking.
A bright future with ATESS
Sadie, reflecting on the decision, highlighted the importance of energy security and cost predictability.
“Having uninterrupted power is crucial for our operations. The solar system ensures our business runs smoothly, without the disruptions caused by power outages. Since installing the ATESS system, it has been a seamless and invaluable addition, allowing us to continue producing our renowned wines without interruption,” he said.
The collaboration between ATESS and Sadie Family Wines exemplifies the potential of renewable energy in enhancing traditional industries.
This partnership not only secures power generation and storage but also aligns with the Sadie Family’s philosophy of respecting the environment and producing exceptional wines.
ATESS is proud to support Sadie Family Wines in their pursuit of sustainability and excellence. This project exemplifies our commitment to providing reliable, clean energy solutions that empower vineyards to thrive while contributing to a greener planet.
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