WODONGA Rendering is going green with new machinery expected to reduce its carbon footprint by 300,000 tonnes.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The meatworks has installed a $4 million tri-generation unit to produce electricity, hot water and steam.
Its purchase was made possible thanks in part to a $1.05 million federal government Clean Technology Investment Program and a $1 million Victorian government grant.
With the machinery installed and operational, Premier Denis Napthine will view it on Tuesday.
Company director Matthew McPhee said the tri-generation unit used natural gas to produce 2000 kilowatts of electricity, 1000 kilowatts of hot water, and 1000 kilograms of steam each hour.
“We use all three in the plant extensively,” Mr McPhee said.
“The estimated savings on emissions, based on 2012, is about 40 per cent.
“We’ll save about 300,000 tonnes of carbon.”
Mr McPhee said the decision to go green was in part due to rising electricity costs and to reduce its own carbon footprint.
The plant received the federal funding in February last year as part of a North East clean energy funding blitz.
Petfood manufacturer Mars Petcare received funding of $147,667 towards installation of solar panels while Wangaratta’s Bruck Textiles received $1.97 million to install and commission new equipment.
