Macadamia Farm: Freedom Fresh Australia

administrator@heliummarketing.agency (Helium Marketing) — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 01:59:29 GMT

The client

Freedom Fresh Australia

The creators of happy nut operate a Macadamia receival and drying system in Elliot Heads, Bundaberg QLD.

The challenge

The client was rapidly expanding operations and pushing the limit of the available electrical power system. This had them using more than $30,000 month of diesel and LPG to dry the Macadamias.

The Solution

Clean Firm Power installed a world first macadamia shell plus solar powered microgrid to provide electricity for the processing system and heat for drying macadamias.

The Set Up and Specs

After identifying predicted site loads and drying configuration Clean Firm Power worked with Freedom Fresh Australia to set up a ‘living lab’ to produce renewable heat and power from Macadamia shells and sunlight. This system is a demonstration and testing plant for a larger scale implementation at Freedom Fresh’s new factory.

The system included:

2 x 45kW Spanner Gasifiers
40kW ground mount Solar
60kW roof mount solar
220kWh of Lithium Ion Batteries
Microgrid Systems Innovative Powercore (100kW Stand alone, grid forming Inverter and control system

Implementation

The system was installed and commissioned over a 7 month period. The next 12 months will be a testing/demonstration phase.

The system is capable of meeting a 100kW continually and provides 200kWth of heating energy for drying or other use.

Operates on Macadamia shells
Remote monitored
No grid connection required for Clean Continuous Firm Power

Results

The system has just finished commissioning and 2025 will see the system put through its paces during the Macadamia drying season (February to September).

Outcomes so far:

Reduced carbon footprint
Reliable power due to grid limitations
Ability to use locally available residue

Learn More

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