In this article Andrew Neather writes about the benefits of using renewable power for wineries in England and Wales. Through analysis of those wineries that are leading the field in this area Andrew skilfully highlights the practical applications of new technology and that choosing renewables can lead not just to a healthier environment but also a healthier bank balance. A new book entitled Rooted in Change: The stories behind sustainable wine written by Jane Masters MW and Andrew Neather takes an in depth look at this important subject.

New figures out last month show that the UK has already generated a record amount of solar power this year – 14 terawatt hours, enough to power more than five million homes for a year. And for any grower or winemaker looking to green their business, switching to renewable energy is an obvious choice. 

Taking into account the entire life cycle of solar panels, solar energy cuts carbon emissions compared to fossil-fuel-generated power by up to 94%. After the initial investment, maintenance costs are low and solar panels can last for several decades.  

In a 2024 survey conducted by WineGB for its Sustainability Impact Report 40% of wineries in England and Wales indicated were able to generate at least some of their own electricity. Unfortunately the Government’s Farm Productivity grant round two, which offered agricultural businesses up to £25,000 in support of investment in solar PV technology, closed in July. But going renewable is still a sound move.

“It is an investment and you have to be prepared to make it up front,” said Ruth Simpson, co-owner of Simpson Wine Estate.   A 30kw array was installed on the winery at Simpson Wine Estate in 2021 based on a ten-year payback. This was the largest capacity they could install – not because of roof space but because of the capacity limits of the local transformer, which can be a factor depending on location. However, Ruth said that given increases in energy costs since 2021, they will in fact make back their investment of £33,000 in a total of just seven years. 

Part of the equation is that when it is sunny, they can export energy to the grid: this earns Simpson’s £2,000 – £3,000 a year. In total, the solar panels generate 30%-40% of their business needs. These figures include charging an electric forklift truck and up to two electric vehicles. The rest of the usage is renewable energy supplied by Octopus. 

“It is a real plus for the business,” said Ruth: they are part of the Sustainable Wine GB audit process. Real-time operating figures for solar systems can be relayed to your laptop or smartphone, showing how much power is being generated and, if combined with batteries, their level of charge. 

Duncan Schwab, CEO and winemaker at Sandridge Barton in Devon, said they installed a bigger, 50kw system when they rebuilt the winery on a new site in 2019.  Solar panels were installed on the roof as well as a rainwater harvesting system and the winery utilises a local spring, as they are not on water mains. Overall, the solar system provides around half their energy needs and saves them £12,600 a year, paying for itself in the three years since installation. This includes power for their all-electric onsite restaurant. “We use all the energy we produce in summer but need to buy more at other times,” said Duncan. “Now we’re looking at putting panels on the parking barn.” 

Some English wineries are even more ambitious. Rathfinny, in Sussex, already generates a lot of solar power on their winery’s large south-facing roofs. After the addition of two new buildings, in 2023 Rathfinny partnered with Brighton Energy Cooperative, who installed a 578kwp array. The Cooperative owns the panels but sells zero-emission cheap energy back to the winery. 

“On a mid-August day it probably exports 95% of its energy to the grid,” said winemaker Tony Milanowski. Evening is peak tariff, so Rathfinny try to minimise their power usage then – for example, the drinks fridges are on timer switches. Producers elsewhere likewise turn off pumps and cooling systems at night to save power. 

Still, Rathfinny would like access to more cheap evening energy: their consumption is higher in winter, when for example they need to raise the temperature in the winery to get malolactic fermentation going. There is also a substantial hospitality business, and Rathfinny are also keen to move to electric tractors, which need to be charged up at night.

The answer, said Tony, is first to install batteries to be able to store more of what is generated but he added: “Our goal is to be self-sufficient as long as it’s economical. One of the challenges in the UK is high utility costs – energy is twice as expensive as it was. We need to escape from the vagaries of decisions that are not ours.”

For that, they will need additional energy sources: “solar is not enough to be a net zero producer at our size in the UK,” he said. So Rathfinny are considering installing a wind turbine, though it is as yet unclear whether the South Downs National Park, which the winery sits within, will permit this. The other renewable option is biomass, which they would feed using wood chips.

“Renewable energy gives you autonomy,” agreed Josep Maria Ribas, Climate Change and Sustainability Director of big Catalan producer Torres. The company generates 55% of its energy needs from solar and biomass: Josep Maria Ribas Ribas said that as a result they were less affected by the energy price spike of 2022-23 than other producers. 

Given our climate, the UK will never generate as much solar energy as Spain but it is still a surprisingly cost-effective option and for wineries striving to reach net zero, it is the single biggest way of cutting their carbon footprint quickly. 

Look out for the new book

Andrew Neather blogs at https://aviewfrommytable.substack.com
His new book with Jane Masters MW, Rooted in Change: The Stories Behind Sustainable Wine is published on 1 October by the Academie du Vin Library. https://tinyurl.com/Academie-du-Vin-Library


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