2 AUGUST 2024: A wide-ranging energy assessment of Australia Country Choice’s (ACC) Brisbane processing plant has identified simple ways to reduce GHG emissions by up to 77%.
A $19.8m investment in energy and carbon-management opportunities could see a payback period of less than five years, according to the assessment.
A package of sustainability initiatives revealed a $4.051m cut in annual power costs and lower manufacturing costs equal to $16.35/head.
The family-run beef and cattle business commissioned the energy road map from energy services company, NRG-ONE to help navigate a path to a lower-carbon future.
Meat processing is a typically energy-intensive industry and ACC’s Cannon Hill site, with a 350,000-head annual capacity, is working to reduce its emissions profile.
It has already curbed reticulated water use at the site by 10%. Meanwhile, substituting diesel with solar-powered pumps at some of its 42 rural properties has seen the equivalent of removing 316 cars.
Joel Bentley, ACC’s Group Manager Sustainability and Analytics, said: “Our key to lower-emission operations is the Cannon Hill site, which employs up to 1200 people and provides meat for multiple export and domestic customers.
“We have to meet those needs against a backdrop of investment cost and effective GHG-mitigation – it’s a complicated balancing act, with lots of moving parts,” he said. “That’s why we needed this energy road map.”
ACC will now undertake feasibility studies into energy efficiency projects incorporating refrigeration, thermal, lighting and hot water supply. Integrated renewable systems such as solar power, biogas and boiler conversion projects are also in the pipeline.
