New Zealand-based wood pellet producer Nature’s Flame has completed a significant production capacity expansion that provides increased renewable energy for domestic businesses. An investment from parent company Norske Skog of around NZ$8 million (≈ EUR 4.38 million) has enabled production to increase to 85 000 tonnes of premium quality wood pellets per year, all from sustainably sourced fibre residues.
Nature’s Flame’s wood pellet facility is ideally located in Taupō on New Zealand’s North Island and has recently undergone a significant expansion with an investment from parent company Norske Skog of around NZ$8 million (≈ EUR 4.38 million).
Utilising local, unused geothermal energy we have eliminated bottlenecks and more than doubled our plant’s output. This provides further opportunity to supply leading businesses across New Zealand with premium renewable fuel to supply their energy needs while importantly supporting their environmental goals and also helping to meet New Zealand’s commitment to emissions reductions. Working with Contact Energy has enabled a smooth transition over to geothermal energy, further increasing the facility’s efficiency and improving its environmental performance said John Goodwin, Operations Manager at Nature’s Flame.
Following the expansion, Nature’s Flame are able to partner with large scale energy users like Fonterra’s Te Awamutu milk processing site to help reduce or eliminate the use of coal.
We know we can’t get out of coal alone, and by partnering with Nature’s Flame we’re not only doing our bit for the environment but we’re also supporting our local communities, said Linda Thompson, Fonterra’s Sustainable Energy and Utility Manager.
Nature’s Flame has a well-established track record of working with schools, rest homes, local and national government agencies and small to large businesses throughout the country with fuel for new boiler installs and conversions from coal, to deliver renewable and sustainable energy solutions, Its pellets are also used to heat thousands of New Zealand homes.
Acquired by Norway-headed forest industry major Norske Skog in 2015, it is located close to the centre of New Zealand’s forest-based industry and the pellets are made from wood residues from nearby timber processing facilities.
The materials used are sourced from sustainably managed, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified plantations and pellets carry the internationally recognised DINplus certification as well as recognition from BioGro New Zealand that the pellets, as well as the ash remaining after combustion, are Certified Organic materials.
