42 | Clutha: Danone Nutricia Richard Loader Dairy spray biofuel boiler a NZ first Danone has invested in Finnish technology that uses forestry waste as its fuel source, utilising a valuable resource that would otherwise be left to rot, says Danone New Zealand Make director Steve Donnelly. to page 44 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT ELECTRIC MOTOR SPECIALISTS Making an environmental impact, Danone has built New Zealand’s first biofueled boiler for a dairy spray dryer at its Balclutha facility. The new boiler is in the closing stages of being commissioned, currently running 8090% on biofuel generated steam for its spray drying processes. Danone’s Make Director Steve Donnelly says the NZ$30 million investment is aligned to Danone’s ‘One Planet, One Health objectives.’ “We believe that in order to produce healthy foods, which is what the majority of Danone’s portfolio is centred around, we must also have a healthy planet. “Danone’s Balclutha dryer previously used LPG as its energy source and the biomass project will reduce Balclutha’s C02 emissions by about 20,000 tonnes per annum. Combined with our 100% renewable electricity that we bring into the plant, the biomass boiler will help underpin Danone’s global ambition to be net zero by 2050.” While many biomass boilers use wood chips or pellets made from whole trees as their energy source, Danone has invested in Finnish technology that uses forestry waste as its fuel source, utilising a valuable resource that would otherwise be left to rot. “It’s the root stock that is left in the ground after a forest has been felled,” explains Steve. “New Zealand is particularly well placed for biomass technology with a significant supply of this type of fuel. “The waste that we use comes from forestry around the Otago region and is supplied by Azwood Energy, which has set up an operation in Milton to support our boiler.” Danone has a number of biomass boilers throughout the world and New Zealand’s abundant supply of raw material made it the ideal location to introduce the technology, and progress Danone’s environmental aspirations. While the project commenced five years ago, the impact of COVID and challenges in bringing key overseas technicians into New Zealand delayed the project by close to two years. Attended by Balclutha’s Mayor, Bryan Cadogan, and other dignitaries, the grand ceremony will be held on the 25th of November to mark the official operational opening of the industry’s first biomass fuelled boiler. Danone commenced operations in Balclutha in 2014 when it bought an existing twoyear-old spray drying facility, with capacity to produce 12.5 thousand tonnes of milk powder per year. Over the years a number of efficiency modules have been added around the dryer to maximise output, and the nominal capacity has been increased to 28 thousand tonnes. SOLUTIONS FOCUSED AND PARTNERSHIP DRIVEN 360lg.co.nz A TRUE 360 APPROACH TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE PROUDLY SUPPORTING OPEN COUNTRY DAIRY PROUDLY SU PORTING DANONE NU RICIA Proud to be associated with Danone Nutricia “We introduced a second milk evaporator so that the dryer can run continually, whereas the one single evaporator had to shut down every twelve hours for cleaning. “We produce a base milk powder, which is packed in 25kg bags. The majority of that powder is transported to our blending and canning facility in Auckland where it’s blended with other ingredients to produce infant and follow-on formulas.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=