EECA funding helps winegrowers adopt solar and battery systems
Winegrowers interested in exploring solar and battery systems on their vineyards could tap into funding and advice through a new funding programme.
The target is part of a new energy management agreement with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).
The agreement includes a reduction of approximately 10 Gigawatt hours of thermal and electricity energy use per annum by 2017. This is the equivalent annual energy use of about 960 households.
Alliance Group chief executive David Surveyor says reducing the company’s energy use makes good business and environmental sense and that the new partnership with EECA is the next phase of Alliance Group’s energy management journey.
“If we achieve our targets, we can expect to save approximately $620,000 in energy savings annually, which can then be used to make further investments in our operations and improve returns for our farmer shareholders,” he says.
“We are committed to the sustainable management of the natural and physical resources that we depend on.”
EECA chief executive Mike Underhill is calling for more energy-intensive industries, such as the primary industries, to set a higher standard for energy efficiency and the associated carbon reduction.
“Alliance Group is one of the increasing number of New Zealand companies that are investing in good energy management as part of smart and sustainable business approach,” he says.
It is estimated that New Zealand firms could collectively save the country $1.6 billion in costs every year through technology upgrades and process-improvement.
Underhill says EECA is working with some of the country’s largest energy users to develop collaboration agreements that help companies achieve savings in a structured way.
“Energy efficient companies make significant gains by reducing carbon emissions, improving the bottom line and building a brand that is valued by its consumers. It doesn’t get much smarter than that.”
Quick facts
- Alliance Group aims to reduce carbon emissions by 3,300 tonnes over the next three years.
- A reduction of 10 Gigawatt hours of combined thermal and electricity energy use by 2017 – the equivalent annual energy use of about 960 households.
- Alliance Group aims to save approximately $620,000 in energy savings annually per year.
