Keen to improve their energy efficiency and cut their carbon footprint, a producer of English sparking wines in West Sussex has installed a large solar PV system.

Wiston Estate is now generating its own renewable energy and thanks to its solar panels should be able to save around 561 tonnes of carbon emissions in addition to generating more than £200,000 in income from the feed-in tariff over the lifetime of the scheme.

The winery in the South Downs was established in 2008 and boasts a 16-acre vineyard. Owned by the Goring family since 1743 Wiston Estate is currently run by Harry and Pip Goring who have managed the estate since the 1970s. Committed to the conservation and preservation of their land the couple were keen to upgrade their facilities in a sustainable way to safeguard the estate for future generations to come.

Southern Renewables was commissioned to install a 50kWp solar PV system onto the roof of the estate’s grain store, which was identified as the best possible site to house the large 200 panel array due to its south facing aspect.

Based in Lindfield West Sussex, Southern Renewables works to provide renewable energy solutions to a wide client base including public and community-based customers as well as commercial and domestic consumers.

Commenting on the solar installation at Wiston Estate, managing director Bradley Carr said: “Working with the Wiston Estate has been a real pleasure from start to finish.

“Not only due to the overall beauty of the estate but primarily because of the progressive, forward thinking and positive outlook of the landowners.”

It is estimated that the solar installation will help the winery achieve savings of more than £300,000 on their energy bills over 25 years.

Specifications:

Where: On the winery’s grain store
When: July 2012
Size of system: 50kWp
How many panels: 200
Estimated FiT income: £200,000