Electric boiler now fully operational at Mataura Valley Milk, New Zealand’s first all-electric dairy processor
The new electric boiler installed at Mataura Valley Milk (MVM) in Southland is now fully operational, completing the plant’s conversion from a coal-fired manufacturing process to one powered entirely by certified renewable electricity.*
The boiler conversion eliminates about 22,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent Scope 1 emissions from the site annually and establishes Mataura Valley Milk as the first all-electric dairy factory in New Zealand.
The new high-pressure electrode boiler (HPEB) provides all the process heat required in the operation of the plant, which converts milk collected from farmers in its area to a range of dairy nutritional products for sale in international markets.
MVM is a world-class dairy based nutritional facility located in the heart of Southland, New Zealand. The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) has a 75% shareholding in MVM alongside China Animal Husbandry Group (CAHG), which has a 25% shareholding.
Commissioning of the new boiler was marked by an event at the plant today, hosted by the Chief Legal and Sustainability Officer and Company Secretary of The a2 Milk Company, Jaron McVicar, and attended by community representatives including Southland MP Joseph Mooney, Gore District Mayor Ben Bell and representatives of the Hokonui Runanga.
Mr McVicar said the electric boiler was a significant milestone for a2MC, as part of a group-wide sustainability programme addressing climate change and promoting nature-positive outcomes across the company’s value chain.
The General Manager of Mataura Valley Milk, Paddy Mc Myler, said: “This project is more than the installation of a new boiler. “The opportunity to be an early adopter and use this technology to remove fossil fuels from our site was compelling. It takes an ambitious company with a proactive approach to sustainability to adopt such a technology in the early phases.”
Other benefits from electrification include the fact that the plant operates cleaner and free from coal dust, ash, and combustion; and that there is potential for further benefits founded on flexibility gains arising from the shift to electricity.
Mr Mc Myler acknowledged the funding and other support provided by MVM’s majority shareholder The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) and EECA (the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority), along with the technical involvement of project partners including Meridian Energy, Windsor Energy, PowerNet and Aurecon.
Chopin Zhang, Chief Supply Chain Officer of The a2 Milk Company, said: “The a2 Milk Company is investing in Mataura Valley Milk’s capability and development. This includes growing its nutritional manufacturing capability, increasing access to A1 protein free milk in Southland, in-sourcing production of specialised milk powder products and developing new products at the plant.
“Our investment reflects the recognition that MVM is a world-class facility with potential to contribute substantially to The a2 Milk Company’s purpose – to pioneer the future of Dairy for good.”
EECA Chief Executive Dr Marcos Pelenur said the completion of such an ambitious project within two years shows the benefits of strong and collaborative partnerships.
“EECA has worked with MVM for several years now, supporting it with an Energy Transition Accelerator opportunity assessment and highlighting the right energy solutions for MVM’s needs. These steps have no doubt helped accelerate the pace of change and the emissions reductions that have been achieved.”
Meridian Chief Customer Officer Lisa Hannifin said: “We’re really proud to help Mataura Valley Milk switch energy sources. Energy contributes around 40% of New Zealand’s total gross emissions and process heat makes up a third of all energy use. So, this change won’t just benefit Mataura Valley Milk – it’ll benefit all of us.”
* Please refer to https://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/business/sustainable-options/certified-renewable-energy
For further information:
Barry Akers – 021 571 234 barryakers9@gmail.com
Or:
Mataura Valley Milk – https://mataura.com/
The a2 Milk Company – https://thea2milkcompany.com
