Fonterra’s Te Awamutu site moves to pellet power

Until now the site has used a combination of fuels to process milk - including coal.  This latest move, follows a trial last year and means it will switch from using coal at the end of this season, starting the 2020/21 season powering the boiler with wood pellets. 

Fonterra’s Sustainable Energy and Utility Manager Linda Thompson says it’s an exciting step for the Co-operative and, in particular, the Te Awamutu team.

“It really demonstrates that sustainability, doing what’s right for the long term good, is very much at the heart of how we’re working and thinking about our future.”

Last year, Fonterra announced a series of environmental targets relating to its coal use, manufacturing emissions and water efficiency, packaging and farm environment plans.

“The move to wood pellets at Te Awamutu will save the Co-operative about 84,000 tonnes of carbon emissions every year, that’s the equivalent of taking around 32,000 cars off the road and will reduce Fonterra’s national coal consumption by approximately 10 per cent.

“It’s a positive step forward as we look to reduce emissions and work towards net zero carbon emissions by 2050.”

The Te Awamutu site is one of three North Island sites that are currently using coal. Ms Thompson says the Co-operative knows it’s got a big challenge ahead of it to get out of coal but it’s one that it’s up for.

“There is no one single solution for us to transition out of coal. We know we can’t do it alone, that’s why working with others like wood pellet supplier Nature’s Flame and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) are so important.”

Taupo based Nature’s Flame will be supplying the pellets made from sustainable wood fibre residues from the surrounding areas.

John Goodwin, Nature’s Flame’s Operations Manager says they’re excited to be partnering with Fonterra.

“We’re encouraged about the growth of the bioenergy (wood pellets) industry and we’re proud to be part of something that’s good for the environment and our local communities.”

EECA’s Chief Executive Andrew Caseley says “this project fully aligns with EECA’s purpose to help decarbonise the New Zealand economy.

“This is the largest boiler conversion project to biofuels to date, and this is why it has received $200,000 in funding from EECA’s technology demonstration programme. It also has the added benefit of establishing a more viable and large scale wood pellet supply chain.”

A full run down of Fonterra’s environmental commitments and targets can be found here