New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards

Reducing carbon emissions – gaining security of supply

17 October 2007

Tenon Manufacturing Ltd reduced its carbon emissions and created its own energy supply at its Taupo wood processing plant – these efforts were awarded a finalist spot in the 2007 New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards.

The third New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards are the premier awards for New Zealand engineering professionals. The awards are presented in two major areas: Individual Awards, that recognise leadership, entrepreneurship, and our young engineers; and Category Awards, that recognise achievement in the various industry areas, together with a Supreme Award for the best of the Category winners.

Prior to 2006, Tenon’s Taupo-based wood processing facility burned up to 500 terajoules of natural gas every year to provide the heat for its nine wood-drying kilns.

In June 2006, Contact Energy completed the construction and commissioning of a piece of energy infrastructure for leading wood processor and exporter, Tenon Manufacturing Ltd.

With the price of natural gas rising sharply as a result of tightening domestic supply, and with concern growing about the release of greenhouse gases through the burning of thermal fuels, Tenon was ready to look at alternatives.

The project provided Tenon with up to 30 megawatts of direct heat – enough to fully power its kiln drying operations and one associated shed. The project has been a success, helping Tenon develop a competitive advantage. Tenon no longer burns natural gas, saving the company in fuel costs and preventing the release of about 24,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere every year.

David Elms, Convenor of the Category Awards judging panel said that the calibre of finalist projects highlighted the contribution that professional engineers make to New Zealand on a social, economic and environmental scale.

“These projects made the finalist cut because they each are outstanding examples of engineering innovation”, says Mr Elms. “This year’s finalists impressed the judges by demonstrating how their projects contributed to the national economy and the reputation of New Zealand engineering and impacted on quality of life in their communities”.

Winners of both individual and category awards will be announced at a black-tie gala dinner at TE PAPA, Wellington on Wednesday, 21 November 2007.

The New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards are hosted by a consortium of five partners and 10 contributing organisations. The partners are: Centre for Advanced Engineering (CAE); Association of Local Government Engineering New Zealand Incorporated (INGENIUM); Electricity Engineers Association of New Zealand (EEA); Association of Consulting Engineers New Zealand (ACENZ); and the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand Inc (IPENZ).

Media enquiries contact:

Verona-Meiana Putaranui, NZEE Awards Media Co-ordinator

Email: media@ipenz.org.nz

Phone: +64 4 473 2028 or Cell: +64 21 479885