THE COST-SMART WINERY

A Practical Pathway to Lower Winery Energy Costs

Energy is one of the most significant operating costs for a winery. The challenge is knowing where to start - and when a larger investment will genuinely deliver value.

The Cost-Smart Winery is a practical half-day workshop designed to help WA wineries reduce energy use and operating costs through a clear, staged investment pathway.

Rather than starting with major capital expenditure, the workshop will show participants how to measure energy use, improve maintenance and plant efficiency, optimise existing assets, introduce smarter controls and load management, and then assess higher-investment options where the business case supports them.

The program will focus on two major areas of winery energy use: refrigeration, cooling and thermal efficiency; and solar, batteries and energy management. Independent technical guidance, practical winery examples and commercial case studies will help participants compare options and identify the most logical next step for their own business.

Who should attend?

This workshop is designed for:
Winery owners and general managers
Winemakers and production managers
Operations and maintenance staff
Sustainability and environment leads
Anyone involved in winery energy use, infrastructure planning or capital investment

The event is open to all Wines of Western Australia (WoWA) members statewide. Whether you're based in Margaret River or another WA wine region, you can participate either in person or online via Zoom, making the workshop accessible regardless of location.

What you'll learn

How to establish an energy baseline and identify where improvements should begin
Ways to improve refrigeration, cooling and thermal efficiency through maintenance, controls, operating changes and modest retrofits
How metering, energy audits, load scheduling, demand management and tariff review can reduce costs before major capital investment
How to make better use of existing solar generation and shift flexible loads
When thermal storage, additional solar or batteries may become commercially viable
What to consider when comparing capital costs, energy and cost savings, payback periods and implementation requirements
What grants, co-funding, technical support and collaborative trial opportunities may be available

Event details

Date: Thursday 12 November 2026

Time: 12.30 pm-5.00 pm

Venue: Margaret River Men's Shed, Margaret River

Format: Hybrid event – attend in person or join live via Zoom

Cost: In person - $35 per person | Zoom - Free

Drinks and light refreshments will follow for in-person attendees, providing an opportunity to continue the conversation and connect with colleagues from across the WA wine industry.

Participants should leave able to answer: Where should we start, what should we do next, what will it cost, what might it save, and what support may be available to help us implement it?

This workshop is coordinated and funded by Wines of Western Australia through the Wine Industry Partnership—an industry-led initiative supported by the WA Government—with support from the Margaret River Wine Association.

Contact the host of The Cost-Smart Winery