One of the largest dairy manufacturers in South Africa and an industry leader in sustainability, Woodlands Dairy, is committed to replacing fossil-fuelled energy sources with renewable energy sources in the next five years.
‘Woodlands Dairy has aligned its sustainability initiatives to consider the objectives of the United Nations sustainable development goals. These goals emphasise our responsibility to promote prosperity to our people and protect our planet. Sustainable development has a global effect on our future existence and environmental responsibility has become part of our day-to-day business operations,’ says André Adendorff, Sustainability Manager at Woodlands Dairy ,
Woodlands Dairy has completed phase 1 of a multi-phase implementation plan for its renewable energy strategy, using solar energy to supplement the total electrical consumption. Phase 1 consists of 1922 JA Solar PV modules and 10 SolarEdge Inverters and Optimiser combinations, capable of generating 828KW AC. The installed solar capacity is anticipated to provide 1.5GWH of power annually, reducing their carbon emissions by 588 tons or planting an equivalent of 17 558 trees annually.
Adendorff explains that solar energy contributes to the reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and holds a carbon tax benefit for Woodlands Dairy. ‘Apart from the reduced demand from the pressures of the local and national grid, and long-term cost reduction, solar power pumps in remote areas can be used without huge expenses to install Eskom lines and power transformers,’ he adds.
The solar system implanted at Woodlands has been designed to be utilised by the dairy and support the diesel generator loading whilst running on backup power.
Phase 2 will provide an additional 986KW AC of green energy with an anticipated energy of 1.65GWH per annum. A biomass boiler was commissioned in 2016 with the main objective to reduce Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) and electricity usage to generate steam for the plant.
By changing over to a biomass boiler, they reduced their electric-boiler consumption by 40% and HFO consumption by 83%. A second biomass boiler is planned for next year and further development of solar-powered electricity from 2023 onwards.
Consumers increasingly see large companies as having a responsibility to the planet and society, and brands that focus on sustainability deliver more growth than those that do not.
‘Businesses are the biggest consumers of carbon emission energy resources and at the same time employ large numbers of people through the supply chain of products and services from cradle-to-grave. At the same time, consumer goods are sourced from land-based operations such as the agricultural industry, which impact the biodiversity of our natural resources. This all creates the perception with consumers that businesses should be held accountable for protecting the planet and society,’ he explains.
‘At Woodlands Dairy, sustainability is at the core of our business. We live in a time of extraordinary change… The three categories covered in our sustainability programme are People, Profit and Planet. Ending poverty goes hand-in-hand with building economic growth and addressing social needs such as education, health, social protection and employment opportunities, whilst addressing climate and environmental impact,’ Adendorff concludes.
Picture: Woodlands Dairy gallery
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