Clever financing makes energy efficiency affordable for Hawkes Bay winery

The Craggy Range winery is enjoying energy savings with no capital outlay.

A partnership between Craggy Range winery and Transfield Worley has seen a heat recovery system installed with no capital outlay at all. Instead, the winery pays for the system and installation through the savings the system delivers.

The result is that Craggy Range has reduced its electricity use by at least 13%. At this current rate of savings, the winery will have paid Transfield Worley for the unit in about four years. After that they will completely own the unit and get the full benefit of lower power bills.

The heat recovery system recovers heat from chillers and an air compressor and uses it to heat hot water for the vineyards facilities.

The move allows the vineyard to become more sustainable, as well as to save money on energy costs.

"We are focused on sustainable wine growing," says Michael Wilding, Chief Operating Officer of Craggy Range. "We are constantly investigating process re-engineering opportunities that will deliver energy efficiencies, which inevitably will also deliver financial savings."

The project has been supported by Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

"Businesses are now realising the gains they can make by making more efficient use of the energy they use," EECA Chief Executive Mike Underhill said.

"Businesses in New Zealand use about 70% of New Zealand's total energy consumption. In the 2007/08 year EECA helped businesses save $26 million worth of energy and there's plenty of scope for businesses to save more.

"EECA shares information about successful projects like Craggy Range so that other businesses can see how innovation and technology can work for them, to reduce their energy and emissions, and improve their bottom line."

For more information on how EECA can assist your business save energy, visit the EECA business website.