Solar power and LED lighting a hit for meat facility

At the Tip Top Butchers meat facility in Melbourne, a 202 kW solar PV array and 108 high-bay LED lights were installed in 2013 with grant funding support from the Clean Technology Innovation Program (CTIP). The solar and energy-efficiency outcomes following the installation for the first 12 months have now been assessed by Enhar, which provided an energy audit and assisted with the original grant application.

The 5500 m² meat facility, based in Laverton North, includes a shop outlet and wholesale service to customers throughout the city and beyond. Designed by Tip Top’s Kent Goodwin to maximise productivity and optimise energy efficiency, the facility’s temperature is carefully controlled via state-of-the-art computer systems and high-tech refrigeration equipment and freezer rooms.

Already a highly efficient site, the addition of the 202 kW solar array has taken Tip Top’s energy efficiency to a new level. The array was installed by Euan Angus Solar using LG panels and Fronius inverters, while Clean Technology Partners provided solar engineering services. LED lighting was also installed for all high-bay lighting in the working areas of the factory.

The company’s meat manufacturing process now uses 31% less energy from the grid per tonne of production, and the solar array produced 5% more energy than expected in its first year of operation. The business is now said to be one of the lowest carbon meat producers in Australia.

Enhar has assisted Tip Top and many other manufacturing businesses to obtain grants for efficiency and solar. According to the company’s director, Demian Natakhan, Tip Top’s results show how “solar and LED lighting can reduce energy consumption in food industries by 30% or more”.