Objectives
EECA invited forward-looking New Zealand businesses to lead some of the country’s first demonstrations of very high temperature heat pumps.
Eligibility
- Industrial and commercial businesses in New Zealand with process heat requirements suitable for VHTHP technology.
- All New Zealand-based and New Zealand-registered legal entities, including State-owned enterprises, local councils and regional councils.
- Public service departments, non-public service departments (such as the New Zealand Defence Force), Statutory Crown entities were NOT eligible.
- Applicants needed to provide a completed pre-feasibility study of a potential VHTHP project.
What kind of project was this for?
We were looking to support very high temperature heat pump (VHTHP) projects across a range of project sizes and businesses sectors.
Successful projects (noted below) will:
- install a high temperature heat pump technology, which can also be a heat pump supplying steam or a mechanical vapour recompression (MVR) heat pump
- supply end uses requiring 85oC or higher, or steam at a pressure of 0.5 bar (absolute) or higher
- are expected to deliver a minimum 150% increase in energy efficiency (have a coefficient of performance COP of 1.5 or higher).
Why we offered this
EECA’s Very high temperature heat pump (VHTHP) activator initiative aims to support the market with new demonstration projects for efficient heat using VHTHP technologies, including via case studies and information. The technology is advancing rapidly, is showing results from the first projects, and can offer a practical pathway for businesses to reduce energy use and operating costs.
The successful projects (noted below) will:
- prove potential to reduce energy use and operating costs
- support market uptake of low-emission technologies with case studies and information
- demonstrate viable applications of VHTHP technology.
Successful projects
Bakels Edible Oils and New Zealand Sugar are progressing demonstration projects that will replace some gas-using process heat with very high temperature heat pumps, while Active Refrigeration and Excel Refrigeration have been selected as approved service providers to develop and deliver further projects across a range of industrial sectors and applications.
| Project/recipient | What the funding supports | Funding amount |
| Bakels Edible Oils | Waste heat recovery + 900 kW very high temperature heat pump at Mt Maunganui, producing hot water at up to 90 degrees celcius. | $2.05 million |
| New Zealand Sugar | VHTHP at Auckland refinery to recover low-grade heat and produce low-pressure steam and high-temperature hot water. | $1.25 million |
Applications were also open to service providers who wished to enter umbrella agreements with EECA to work with businesses on projects.
