Tip Top solar array to toast power cost
BREAD maker Tip Top is putting the sun into Sunblest.
The Townsville bakery, part of George Weston Foods, is among the first in the national group to install energy efficiencies, including a big solar array on its roof.
North Queensland operations manager Shaun Schostakowski said Townsville was a pilot site for solar installations and other efficiencies that could be rolled out at other bakeries around Australia to help manage soaring power costs.
“We want to do the right thing by the environment, No. 1,” Mr Schostakowski said.
“( But) it’s also really important for us that we focus on ( reducing) costs because that builds on job security.”
The company is investing hundreds of thousands of dollars into efficiencies, including a 97kW solar system, and hopes to make energy cost savings of up to 20 per cent a year.
The solar system is estimated to have a payback period of 4.6 years and provide carbon reductions, through lower use of grid power, of 110 tonnes a year.
Its Garbutt manufacturing location – designated as a peak load reduction area – has meant distributor Ergon Energy is also contributing to the cost of installing power factor correction units at the plant to provide further savings for the network and for Tip Top.
“One of our main brands is Sunblest,” Mr Schostakowski said.
“I like to say we are putting the sun back into Sunblest.”
The plant produces about 200,000 loaves and 6500 packets of crumpets a week for distribution throughout North Queensland.
The company that managed and installed Tip Top’s solar system, Mackay- based energy managers Carbon Friendly Enterprises, hopes to undertake similar jobs at other bakery sites.
CFE general manager Jemal Solo was impressed with energy efficiency measures already undertaken at the Townsville plant site in lighting and motor control, and urged other businesses to consider the moves.
“These are things you should be doing as a business,” Mr Solo said.
Mr Solo said the energy report by Australian Chief Scientist Alan Finkel found one of the reasons more businesses were not investing in solar and energy efficiencies was the upfront cost.
But Mr Solo said the reality was that if companies could afford to pay their power bills, they could afford to pay for the innovations.
“Most industries are not aware of this. It’s a bit hard for people to get their heads around,” Mr Solo said.