FOOD IN ENGINEERING
panel. The first stage of 88 solar
panels are on the north facing
600 square meter bee keeping
and storage facility. Stage two
is a further 169 panels covering
Arataki’s production and packing
plant.
The project, undertaken by
Hawke’s Bay business Ecoefficient
Solutions NZ, will be fully commissioned
and operating in time for
Arataki’s busy spring pollination
and honey seasons.
Ecoefficient Solutions managing
director Laura Kerr, says she’s
seen a big change in mindset
from business owners compared
to three years ago when solar
was basically “not even on the
radar”.
ECOEFFICIENT SOLUTIONS
MANAGING DIRECTOR LAURA KERR,
SAYS SHE’S SEEN A BIG CHANGE IN
MINDSET FROM BUSINESS OWNERS
COMPARED TO THREE YEARS AGO
WHEN SOLAR WAS BASICALLY “NOT
EVEN ON THE RADAR”
“Hawke’s Bay and our abundance
of sunlight hours makes solar
power one of the best ways we
can help towards reducing our
carbon footprint as a region.
“Arataki is leading by example
and the project is a fantastic
opportunity to help showcase the
benefits and proven cost savings
so we can encourage more and
more businesses to invest in solar,”
she says.
Rhys Flack says, “The seasonal
nature of Arataki’s production
dovetails into the peak solar
generation months. During winter,
we expect to need a small power
top up but in Spring and Summer
excess power will be fed into the
national grid."
22 September 2019