New Zealand’s biggest industrial players are slashing their emissions faster thanks to the help of the NZ Government pushing for decarbonisation across the country.
“In partnering with the private sector through the third round of the Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry Fund we’re helping to clean up production processes, and helping business stay ahead of the curve,” Minister of Energy and Resources Dr Megan Woods said.
“We know New Zealanders want to see lower-carbon products and services, and the proactivity these businesses are showing makes good business sense as well as being better for the environment, so we all stand to benefit.”
The Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry (GIDI) Fund was launched by the NZ Government to invest in and promote cleaner industrial processes and process heat through energy efficiency, new and innovative technologies, and fuel switching.
The third round of the GIDI is expected to achieve annual emissions reductions equivalent to taking 14,400 cars off the road.
The announcement was made at Southern Paprika Limited, one of New Zealand’s largest capsicum growers. Southern Paprika is set to install the country’s first biomass boiler and CO2 recovery unit, replacing natural gas and reducing emissions by 70%.
Projects under the third round of the GIDI also include the following:
- ANZCO Foods Limited – The beef and lamb producer will replace the aging coal boiler and install an electric boiler and high-temperature heat pump, completely electrifying its process heat and significantly reducing the site’s emissions.
- DB Breweries Limited – The Waitemata brewery site will install a new high-temperature heat pump, and start recovering heat from its refrigeration plant, significantly reducing its reliance on natural gas.
- Auckland Meat Processors Limited – The Ōtāhuhu based meat processor will decommission two existing gas-fired hot water boilers and install high-temperature heat pumps to generate the site’s hot water for process operations. The heat from site refrigeration systems will be recovered and utilised as a part of the heat pump system, improving energy efficiency.
“The Fund is about encouraging innovation and supporting early adopters of technologies that can be replicated by others,” Minister Woods said.
“The GIDI Fund is already making a tangible difference to the total greenhouse gases we generate, and it’s great to see regions right across the country benefiting.”
Climate Change Minister James Shaw said the third round of the GIDI is a part of a growing list of the NZ Government’s actions to cut emissions and limit warming.
“Very soon we will release the Government’s first Emissions Reduction Plan, which will be full of initiatives to drive down emissions across every sector of the economy,” he said.
“In ten or twenty years, the world will be a very different place. But investments like these show we can move now to secure our part in it and ensure the Aotearoa of the future is carbon-zero and climate-friendly, with fairness and opportunities for all.”
The funding commitment follows the successful allocation of two previous GIDI rounds announced in April and September 2021.
“Projects from the first two GIDI rounds are tracking well. It’s encouraging that so many private sector organisations are partnering with the government on this – the projects will help us move towards our Emissions Reduction goals and net-zero target.
“This is further proof that the Government is delivering on a key election commitment to tackle climate change and helping to create jobs in the clean energy sector. This is about future-proofing our planet and our economy, which is especially vital as we continue our solid economic recovery from Covid-19,” Minister Woods said.
Applicants were selected for their ability to demonstrate high value for money, a detailed broader carbon reduction plan, and the ability to complete the project within the specified timeframe.
The GIDI Fund has committed $69 million to 53 projects since it began – as part of the Covid Response and Recovery Fund.
Source: Beehive.govt.nz