In 2023, Brisbane-based Rino Recycling built a state-of-the-art commercial waste recycling facility, making them the world’s largest under-one-roof company of its kind.

In designing the new facility, the Rino Recycling leadership team was very focused on including clean energy sources in their energy mix. Breaking down construction materials like skip bins and concrete slabs is an extremely energy-intensive process and, as part of the carbon-capture industry, the Rino team wanted to find ways to efficiently decarbonise this process.

Rino’s Chief Financial Officer, Richard Jacobitz, reached out to Jack Hooper of GEM Energy, to explore the possibility of installing a solar system at their new facility.

A true rag-to-riches story, Shelim Hussain MBE founded Euro Foods Group back in 1991 with a £20 investment. Now worth an estimated £120million, the business is now one of the UK’s leading manufacturers and distributors of frozen and fresh foods. In the last 30+ years, Shelim has expanded the Euro Foods business offering, opened new subsidiary companies, and built six depots across the UK.

The latest feather in his cap of savvy business decisions is the installation of cost-saving decarbonisation equipment across Euro Foods depots and offices. Shelim opted to install solar panels because of escalating electricity prices, which he says have tripled in recent years. This surge in costs pushed his operational expenses to a level that was no longer sustainable, prompting his decision.

After initially planning to self-manage the funding and installation of the solar project, Shelim decided to call in the experts. Channel Partner Solarsense came to the conversation to provide the most cost-effective and energy-efficient solution.

Philter Brewing arrived on the craft beer scene in 2017 with a bang, winning the coveted Champion Pale Ale award within their first four months and with their very first beer. It wasn’t long before they became one of the most awarded craft breweries in Australia.

Soon came the need to expand. Within a few short years there was a Marrickville brewing facility capable of producing 1.5 million litres annually, a range of beers from stouts to ginger beers, and their very own onsite bar venue.

To help reduce the rising operational costs that came with Philter’s supercharged growth, Managing Director Mick Neil turned to solar.

“Brewing is a practice that takes up a lot of energy,” said Mick.

Kokako Lodge is nestled alongside the majestic Hunua Falls on the western side of the Hunua Ranges Regional Park, an hour’s drive south-east of Auckland. It’s a not-for-profit business dedicated to getting rangatahi (young people) out of their comfort zone and into the outdoors. Inspired by the concept of Hauora, a Māori philosophy of health and well-being, the Lodge aims to help kids grow stronger and more confident through challenging activities like abseiling, raft building and bushcraft.

Winters are chilly deep in the Park, and the Lodge’s power consumption skyrockets each year to heat and cook for their 82-bed camp. The Kokako team had already converted their showers to run on LPG and had been searching for ways to further reduce their coal-fired electricity use. They were keen to work out if solar power would fit their needs – sustainability is one of Kokako Lodge’s core values, so reducing their emissions was important for this committed group.