Wednesday 10 August 2017
The Wood Energy South initiative took centre stage last night in Auckland at the Deloitte Energy Excellence Awards after winning the Large Energy User Initiative of the Year award.
Wood Energy South was a three year carbon emissions reduction pilot project delivered by Venture Southland and funded by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA). It has focused on promoting the benefits of industrial biomass boilers, facilitated and funded conversion of boilers and commissioned additional studies to confirm security of future fuel supply.
Venture Southland GM Business and Strategic Projects Manager Steve Canny said that securing the award is acknowledgement of the considerable work undertaken by the Wood Energy South Team over the last three years.
“We look forward now to other regions taking up the challenge and building on the success of Wood Energy South. There are many benefits of converting from fossil derived fuel to clean burning renewable wood energy including low carbon emissions, low long term costs and significant reductions in the discharge of unhealthy particulates into the atmosphere.”
EECA chief executive Andrew Caseley congratulated Venture Southland on their win, saying the agency has been a great advocate for wood energy in Southland.
“We hope this inspires other large businesses to explore switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The potential to unlock energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions in the sector is vast, and would benefit businesses and all New Zealanders.”
Venture Southland will continue to build on the success of the project, working with EECA to monitor the impact of the project over the next year with the Wood Energy Steering Group.
