A government fund dedicated to projects that reduce emissions has paid $5 million towards a “biomass boiler” at a massive capsicum farm. The funding for the boiler, which will allow the capsicum and avocado farm to use renewable materials instead of relying on gas, was part of $13 million worth of announcements Energy Minister Megan Woods made on Tuesday. According to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, the funding announced would save 38,883 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually. It said the entire decarbonisation fund, worth $68.8 million so far, had led to greenhouse gas emission reductions of 364,127 tons each year. Southern Paprika Ltd, which operates huge glasshouses north of Auckland to grow capsicum, avocados and tomatoes, received just under $5 million for the biomass boiler that it said would reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heating by 70%.

Source: Stuff April 26, 2022 20:47 UTC