Carbon Smart Winemaking
Low-cost Solutions for Sustainable Production
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Whadjuk people of the Bibbulmun nation, traditional custodians of this Country we meet on today. We recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities and pay our respects to all Noongar Boodja people, their cultures and Elders past and present
What to expect today
• Carbon Footprint in Wine Production
• Energy Audits and Efficiency
Morning tea @ 10:00am
• Digital Solutions for Sustainability
• Packaging – Lightweight Glass
• Throughout → Tools & Resources
Lunch @ 1:00pm
Carbon Footprint in Wine Production
Life Cycle Assessment
Source: Wine Australia An Emissions Reduction Roadmap
Carbon Footprint in Wine Production
VINEYARD PRODUCTION
Source: https://www.awri.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/s2341.pdf
Sustainable Energy Use – Conservation
• Vineyard
• Mechanisation
Nutrient and soil management
Pest & disease management
Pruning, canopy management, harvest
• Transportation
• Fuel
• Renewable Energy
Solar-power
Energy recovery - biomass
• Winery
• Equipment
Air Compressors | Refrigeration Chillers
• Thermal management
Insulation – tanks & buildings
Heating ventilation air-con systems
• Operational Practices
Production scheduling
Maintenance programs
Sustainable Energy Use - Efficiency
• Process-specific
• Refrigeration & Tank storage 5070% energy consumed
• Distribution across two areas
• Processing, fermentation, & stabilisation ~45-90%
• Bottling & storage ~18%
• Technology
• High efficiency equipment
• Variable speed drives ↓ 20%
• Temperature optimisation
• Set points
• Smart thermostat integration
• Renewable energy integration
100% efficient system kW = kVA
Sustainable Energy Use - Efficiency
• Scale & Design
• Economies of scale
Energy consumption range 0.75 – 2.0
kWh/L of wine produced
• Building design
Thermal performance of buildings
Natural ventilation
Integrated renewable energy systems
• Monitoring
• Identifies areas for improvement
• Allows performance benchmarking
• Real-time monitoring allows optimisation and maintenance scheduling
Sustainable Energy Use – Efficiency upgrades
• Business Benefits
• Cost savings
• Reduced costs associated with water, materials and waste consumption
• Reduced maintenance and downtime costs
• Improved productivity
• Enhance brand
Energy Audits – what are they?
• Assesses
• How a facility uses energy
• Opportunities to improve efficiency
• Behavioural practices
• Operational practices
• Technical
• Energy costs
• Examines
• Equipment
• Vineyard
• Winery
• Operations scheduling
• Temperature controls
• Refrigeration & compressor units
• Lighting systems
• Heating, Ventilation, Air
Conditioning (HVAC) systems
Have you conducted an energy audit in the past 2 years?
The Slido app must be installed on every computer you’re presenting from
Types of Audits and when to use them
• Level 1 – Walk through
• Scope: Basic visual inspection and review of utility bills
• Duration: 2-3 hours to collect basic information
• Cost:
• Small (<5000m2) $2000 – $5000
• Medium: $5000 – $10000
• Savings Potential: 10-15%
• Best For: Small wineries, initial assessments, limited budgets
• Includes: Identifies obvious energy waste, no capital investment
Types of Audits and when to use them
• Level 2 - Energy Saving & Analysis
• Scope: Detailed analysis of all major energy systems
• Duration: Multiple site visits for extended periods
• Cost:
• Small-medium wineries: $10,000-$25,000
• Large wineries: $25,000-$50,000
• Savings Potential: 15-25%
• Best For: Medium-sized wineries, when business case development is needed
• Includes:
• Financial return analysis, examining payback periods and ROI calculations
• Detailed descriptions of how each opportunity will affect your facility
• Capex budgets, potential utility incentive (rebate) opportunities, operational implications, and estimated energy savings
• Life cycle analysis
Types of Audits and when to use them
• Level 3 – Investment Grade
• Scope: Comprehensive computer modeling and financial analysis
• Duration: Extensive multi-week process
• Cost:
• Complex facilities: $50,000 +
• Savings Potential: 20-30%
• Best For: Large wineries, complex facilities, major capital investments
• Includes:
• Fully calibrated energy model (computer simulation) of the facility that predicts energy use and cost down to time increments of an hour or lower
• Risk assessment and detailed uncertainty analysis
• Precise vendor quotes and lifecycle cost analysis
Feasibility study increases production capacity Project
• Identified power supply issue
• Funded by
• DPIRD Agrifood and Beverage Voucher Program (feasibility study)
• SWDC Regional Economic Development (RED) Grant (Power upgrade) 50:50 contribution
• Timeline: Feasibility study → Power upgrade → Equipment installation → Vintage 2025 commissioning
Feasibility study increases production capacity Infrastructure improvements
• Power supply upgrade to meet future winery capacity requirements
• Inverter system installation for energy efficiency
• Upgraded refrigeration system for quality control
• New crushing and pressing equipment commissioned for Vintage 2025
Feasibility study increases production capacity
Business Outcomes Achieved
• Production efficiency: More efficient grape processing with best practice standards
• Domestic growth: Increased wine production and domestic sales
• Export expansion: New markets in Singapore and Malaysia
• Service diversification: Contract crushing services for equipmentless wineries
• Employment: Additional staffing opportunities created
Feasibility study increases production capacity
Business Outcomes Achieved
• Production efficiency: More efficient grape processing with best practice standards
• Domestic growth: Increased wine production and domestic sales
• Export expansion: New markets in Singapore and Malaysia
• Service diversification: Contract crushing services for equipmentless wineries
• Employment: Additional staffing opportunities created
Audit – what you need
• Before
• Energy bills & usage data
Minimum 12 months
• Equipment list & specifications
• Document operational schedules & production patterns
• Identify upgrades implemented
• Establish goals and budget constraints
Energy
Would this be a useful tool for your business?
The Slido app must be installed on every computer you’re presenting from
Quick Wins vs Long-Term Investments
Low Cost, Short Payback
• LED lighting upgrades
• Programmable thermostats
• Pipe and tank insulation
• Basic maintenance of existing equipment
• Operational changes (scheduling, setpoint optimisation)
Higher Cost, Longer Payback
• High-efficiency chillers and refrigeration systems
• Air compressors and solar electricity generation
• Building envelope improvements
• Renewable energy systems (solar PV, heat pumps)
• Cogeneration: solar electricity
Xanadu Wines – Margaret River
Energy Savings
• Net energy savings over 5 years was $18136
• Upgraded lighting from halogen to LED lighting.
• Made use of flotation technology for juice clarification.
• Energy savings of 66%
• Payback period 1 yr 2 months
Source: Margaret River Wine Association Case Study – Energy savings in Xanadu’s Winery
Most Impactful Changes
• Chiller replacement
Replace with more efficient ones
• Variable Speed Drives Compressors and pumps
• Building Management Systems
Centralised controls for cooling, heating and ventilation
• Energy Monitoring Identify energy consumption
Viti Voltaics Demonstration
• Swan Valley – Perth Hills Wine Industry
Co-design opportunity
Small scale – 80 m2
10 kW System integrated with existing trellis
• Compatible with current operations
No bird netting
• Measuring
Climate impacts
Vine Performance
Energy generation
Economic modelling
• Energy Monitoring
Identify energy consumption
Morning Tea
Up next
Digital Solutions for Sustainability
Carbon Smart Winemaking
Packaging – Lightweight Glass
Carbon Footprint in Wine Production
Western Australian Wine Producer ~125 Tonnes
Glass Bottle Weight Reduction Savings Analysis
Question – what would be the savings switching from a 750 g EU-imported glass bottle to an Australian produced bottle weighing:
500 g
420 g 330 g
Western Australian Wine Producer – ~125 Tonnes
Glass Bottle Weight Reduction Savings Analysis – 100,000 bottles
750 g EU-imported
500g
• Weight 33.3%
• Cost saving (Glass + Freight) 42%
• Annual Potential Savings $87,500
• CO2 reduction 569 tonnes = 123 cars off road
420 g
• Weight 44%
• Cost saving (Glass + Freight) 50%
• Annual Potential Savings $117,500
• CO2 reduction 751 tonnes = 163 cars off road
330 g
• Weight 56%
• Cost saving (Glass + Freight) 57.1%
• Annual Potential Savings $150,000
• CO2 reduction 956 tonnes = 207 cars off road
Western Australian Wine Producer – ~125 Tonnes
Glass Bottle Weight Reduction Savings Analysis – 100,000 bottles
• Benefits
• Cash flow improvement
• Reduced freight costs
• Supply chain security
• Strategic Advantages
• Sustainability credentials
• Market positioning
• Risk reduction
• Local partnerships
BACKGROUND
Fastest way to reduce CO2 emissions
Sustainable Wine
Roundtable launched Bottle
Weight Accord 2023
Sustainable Winegrowing
Australia does not capture packaging emissions reduction
MARGARET RIVER WINE
LIGHTWEIGHT GLASS PACKAGING
Launched in 2024
• Option 1 – Full Signatory
• We are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• We have successfully reduced our average 750ml bottle weight to below 420 grams.
• Option 2 – Statement of Intent
• We will reduce the average weight of our 750ml still wine bottle to less than 420 grams by the end of financial year 2025-2026.
CHARTER
MRWA ACTIONS
Creation of web page and a list of SKUs in Lightweight Glass (over 100+ wines) and growing daily
Creation of the Average Bottle
Weight Calculator
Inclusion in the 2024 Sustainability
Report
UK Press Drop and Media Release to 12 media celebrating Margaret River wines in Lightweight Glass
MARGARET RIVER WINE
LIGHTWEIGHT GLASS PACKAGING CHARTER
Average Bottle Weight Calculator
What other measurements would be helpful on the lightweight glass packaging calculator?
The Slido app must be installed on every computer you’re presenting from
MRWA CASE STUDY
PRESENTATION FRIDAY 23 MAY @
2025 MRWA Coastal Community
Revegetation Day
“Over 7,500 kg on annual reduction in glass weight projected”
“Estimated 28% reduction in glass costs in 2025”
From today's workshop which solution/tool interests you most?
The Slido app must be installed on every computer you’re presenting from
How likely are you to explore Shoestring Digital solutions after today?
The Slido app must be installed on every computer you’re presenting from
One word to describe today's workshop.
The Slido app must be installed on every computer you’re presenting from
Thank you
Please join us for lunch.