Elgo Estate Winery

The labels from Elgo Estate winery proudly boast “100% wind-powered wine.” A unique claim for any Australian winery, possibly even the world. Except it’s not true; the wind turbine on Grant and Suzie Taresch‘s property actually provides twice as much power than they use in the production of their wines. With just one 150 kW wind turbine on the property they can cover their own entire electricity bill of around $30,000 a year, plus make some money back on the renewable energy credits. So their sales-line of “quality wines that don’t cost the earth” really reflects what they do on the estate. Along with the wind generator, the winery recycles its organic waste from grape pressing back into the soils, building up soil quality and longevity. They have protected and planted thousands of native trees, to hold down topsoils and preserve native wildlife. Now, the homestead is regularly visited by kangaroos and koalas. Sheep are allowed to graze under the vines, to keep pests down without pesticide. The single wind tower, tiny by industry standards, produces electricity that, if from coal power, would create about a tonne of greenhouse gas per day. It seems such a no-brainer that if this one piece of equipment can pump out double the power for a commercial winery, then there are realistic renewable energy solutions for all manner of business activity and the electricity grid in general.