Innovation Award Winner - Energy For Industry and Silver Fern Farms
A small-scale biomass-fired bubbling fluidised bed boiler turns wastewater sludge into valuable biomass at the Silver Ferns Farms' Finegand meat processing plant in Balclutha, South Otago. The benefits are both environmental and financial.
This technology is well proven overseas for its ability to handle low quality fuels. The 8.5 megawatt unit was installed at the plant by Energy for Industry under a build, own and operate agreement.
The technology and innovative funding package have provided a financially viable solution for tough new water discharge rules. And Silver Fern Farms saved $3.5 million they would otherwise have invested in the traditional option for sludge disposal - composting it for a market that is already oversupplied.
The technology brings other important benefits including reduced dependence on coal, a 9,500 tonne reduction in annual CO2 emissions and significant improvements in air discharges.
