Arataki Honey go solar!
Kristin Gillies, August 29, 2019
The largest solar pv system in Hawkes Bay opened recently, installed by SEANZ member Ecoefficient Solutions NZ on the roof of iconic NZ honey company Arataki Honey.
Rhys Fleck from Arataki Honey said that "for the last 10 years we have been keeping a watching brief on solar. We were always a little envious of our Rotorua division who have had geothermal processing heat since opening. We knew we had good roof facings, HB had good sunshine hours and our peak production period was in summer. The concept of being almost self sufficient in electricity and reducing the load on the national grid always had appeal but initially the costs were too high and the technology a little ‘new’. When Laura from Ecoefficient supplied the new proposal and costings the financials now aligned with our concept.
Waste minimisation is always front and centre of any good business. For decades most of our honey is sold in plastic pots which is convenient, durable and ideal for food safety. Because the same resources have not been put into recycling plastic as it has into production we have a waste stream that is currently in a void. New Zealand will lift its game in recycling but in the meantime we have introduced a traditional cardboard pot on some lines.
We are in our 75th year of operation at our Havelock North site. While the solar project was not specifically timed for this anniversary, it’s great that the two significant events are happening together".
Find out more about Ecoefficient Solutions NZ here
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