Client Overview
Kalafatis Fresh Produce, located in Shepparton, Victoria, is a cornerstone of Australian agriculture. A trusted Woolworths supplier for over 50 years, Kalafatis specialises in pears, apples, and stone fruit, including exclusive varieties like the Papple pear.
Project Summary
With rising energy costs and an increasing focus on sustainability, Kalafatis Fresh Produce sought a smart solution to cut emissions and reduce operational expenses. Watters Electrical, a long-term partner of Kalafatis, proposed and later delivered a 400 kW solar PVSolar Photovoltaic system. For the project to proceed, Northmore Gordon was bought in to provide critical funding via the VEUVictorian Energy Upgrades is a Victorian government energy efficiency program that gives every Victorian household and business the opportunity to receive rebates or discounts on energy saving products. that supported the project financials.
Challenges We Overcame
This project wasn’t without its complexities:
- Kalafatis built new expansion sheds in 2022, and seven new cool rooms, causing a spike in energy usage during our measurement period. This added complexity to M&V and caused a dead end under traditional approaches.
- At Northmore Gordon we love challenging problems, and we used creative problem solving to create the concurrent baseline method (VSS). By gaining government support for the new mechanism, this allowed us to isolate energy savingsElectricity or gas savings or both. purely from the solar system. This method is now widely used by the industry.
- Erroneous inverter data also caused challenges, we regularly apply new and creative approaches to modelling to ensure optimal customer outcomes.
Results That Speak for Themselves
Despite the hurdles, the project exceeded expectations:
- Energy Generation: 607 MWh actual vs. 526 MWh estimated
- Certificate Value: $283K actual vs. $235K estimated
- Annual Savings: 517 MWh actual vs. 484 MWh estimated
That’s a 6.4% boost in VEECs, delivering an extra $48K in financial value – reflecting our commitment to precise analysis and energy expertise.
Benefits for Kalafatis Fresh Produce
- Lower Energy Bills: Thanks to a significant reduction in electricity consumption
- Environmental Stewardship: A sharp decrease in greenhouse gas emissions
- Financial Incentives: VEECVictorian Energy Efficiency Certificate rebates improved the return on investment
- Brand Reputation: Strengthened perception as an environmentally responsible grower
Our Role
At Northmore Gordon, we provided full project guidance – right from strategy through to implementation. Working closely with Kalafatis and Watters Electrical we ensured compliance and optimised outcome. Our expert team ensured the solar VEEC initiative stayed compliant, cost-effective, and results-driven. With our Measurement and Verification methodology and trusted project management, Kalafatis Fresh Produce turned their sustainability ambition into measurable success.
For more information about Solar VEECs and LGCs contact: Madonna Ghajar
