Spotlight on energy projects

EECA follows and shares the progress of clean and clever energy projects around New Zealand, particularly if we have contributed co-funding to the project. 

Bullocks Group Whanganui

Bullocks Group Whanganui has made a big step forward with a business plan focused on taking strides in solar power, electric off-road vehicles, and low carbon concrete.

Bullocks Group's low-carbon approach includes:

  • Low carbon cement — The team will transition towards the use of recycled aggregates and cement substitutes to make ‘low-carbon’ concrete. This will involve adding a second silo to the concrete plant in 2025 to facilitate the use of ‘slag’, a by-product from steel manufacturing. The slag can directly replace a portion of cement used in concrete, improving its strength and handling characteristics, providing a win-win for the customer and the environment.
  • Solar power — The installation of solar panels will help power its quarry to meet most of the day-to-day electricity needs of the new batching plant and office during the day.
  • Electric off-road vehicles — The first of two electric battery-powered front-end loaders are arriving in about a month. Ahead of its arrival Bullocks Group will first install two high-capacity EV charging stations. These EV loaders will be amongst the first trialed in New Zealand’s quarrying and concrete sectors, and it is hoped they will more than halve the running costs of its traditional diesel loaders.

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