Synlait native tree programme launched by Prime Minister

Electrode Boiler Fact Sheet December 2019
ELECTRODE BOILER
FACT SHEET
Synlait commissioned New Zealand’s first large-scale electrode
boiler in March 2019 to provide process heat/steam in its advanced
dairy liquids facility at Synlait Dunsandel.
The deliberate decision to not build another coal boiler is part of
Synlait’s bold sustainability strategy announced in June 2018 and
leads the way to a lower emissions future for New Zealand.
This was the first significant initiative that Synlait has implemented
to progress its goal of reducing off-farm greenhouse gas emissions
by 50% by 2028.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The six-megawatt (6 MW) electrode boiler uses 11,000 volt electricity
to power electrodes submerged into water. Electricity flows from the
electrodes through ultra-pure boiler water inside an earthed neutral
basket inside the boiler shell. The flow of current creates a high
flux rate that generates steam by boiling water. The boiler produces
saturated steam of 180 degrees celsius at 10 bar.
The electrode boiler conversion efficiency of electrical energy to heat
energy is greater than 97%. Unlike a traditional water tube boiler only
a small amount of water is heated which enables it to go from cold
start to steaming at 8 tonne per hour (t/h) in less than an hour. When
the boiler is in hot standby mode it can steam from zero to 8 t/h in
less than 30 seconds.
Maintenance cost is low compared to a coal fired boiler and an
annual maintenance turnaround would take only two days. From an
operational point of view the boiler is classified as unattended and
needs no input from operational staff except for water chemistry
management and remote monitoring.
An electrode boiler differs from a household kettle in the sense that
the flowing of current in the former boils water as opposed to an
element that heats up to boil the water it is in contact with.
The process heat/steam from from the electrode boiler is used to
pasteurise and sterilise milk, clean production lines and equipment,
and assist in forming product packaging among other uses.
The installed electrode boiler has a 12MW design capacity. It is limited
to 6MW operational capacity as per current demand. The high voltage
supply capacity to site (66kV) is a limiting factor which Synlait is
working on with Orion to enable future demand expansion to 12MW.Electrode Boiler operating at Synlait Dunsandel.

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Whakapuāwai Fact Sheet, December 2019
THERE ARE THREE ASPECTS TO
WHAKAPUĀWAI:
1. Extensively landscape and plant thousands of native trees and
shrubs on the 15 hectares of grazing land behind our Dunsandel
operation. While the early planting programme requires plants
sourced from local nurseries, within a couple of years the plants
will come from our own nursery. In time, it will contain a wetland,
along with walking tracks, exercise zones and meeting areas
2. Work with farmers to identify areas on farms that would benefit
from restoration of natural ecosystems. This will focus on the
areas that will have the greatest environmental impact – riparian
planting and wetland areas. Plants from our own nursery will be
provided free to farmers, and our staff days will be used to help
the farmers regenerate these areas. Our farmer suppliers were
also given a tree during our annual supplier conference
3. Form partnerships to identify and restore community areas of
shared value. As an example, Te Waihora (Lake Ellesmere) is a
catchment area that has been significantly degraded as a result
of changes in surrounding land use. That part of Canterbury was
once a large wetland, home to thousands of species of animals
and plants, and a critical source of food for Ngāi Tahu. We are
now on a pathway to forming a partnership with our local hapū,
Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki, to work on restoration projects, starting
with extensive planting and wetland restoration around Muriwai
(Cooper’s Lagoon). We hope the improvements to this small
piece of land will become an exemplar for restoration that land
owners all around Te Waihora will follow
WHERE DOES WHAKAPUĀWAI FIT WITHIN
SYNLAIT’S WIDER SUSTAINABILITY PLAN?
In June 2018 Synlait announced its refreshed commitment to
sustainability with the release of its 10-year sustainability plan.
In the plan, Synlait made new commitments around water usage,
greenhouse gases, nitrogen loss, palm kernel expeller (PKE), and coal.
Included in the people area of the plan, Whakapuāwai, is a key
initiative that is enabling Synlait people and communities to live and
breathe our purpose of ‘doing milk differently for a healthier world’.
WHAKAPUĀWAI
FACT SHEET
Whakapuāwai is a wide-reaching environmental programme that
incorporates the establishment of an industrial scale nursery to
propagate native plants. The 15-hectare site at Synlait Dunsandel, will
be capable of growing more than one million native trees and shrubs
annually, and our goal is to plant four million native trees on farms and
community land by 2028.
Whakapuāwai means “to cause to blossom, develop, flourish, prosper,
thrive”. It is Synlait’s commitment to restoring and regenerating native
ecosystems, waterways and wetlands, flora and fauna. It is about
drawing people and groups together to improve water quality and
restore biodiversity and re-establish mahinga kai – the places and
natural resources that are culturally important to Māori.
Synlait staff receive one paid day per year to contribute to the
Whakapuāwai initiative. It is a way for them to live Synlait’s purpose
of ‘doing milk differently for a healthier world’, engaging with their
communities and contributing to environmental restoration in the
places where they live and work.

Whakapuāwai Fact Sheet, December 2019
MORE ABOUT WHAKAPUĀWAI
The 15 hectares behind the Synlait Dunsandel truck yard will be
extensively landscaped and planted with native trees and shrubs.
A wetland will be built there which will cleanse the waste water
from the Synlait factory and encourage flora and fauna to thrive.
It is expected that the programme will take a number of years to
complete.
Whakapuāwai will include walkways, exercise zones and meeting
pods to encourage Synlait staff to enjoy nature.
Synlait also has plans to build a large-scale native plant nursery, and
eventually they will build an education centre for staff and visitors.
WHAKAPUĀWAI FACTS
The Whakapuāwai programme site at Synlait Dunsandel will cover
an area of 15 hectares.
This site will be capable of growing more than one million native
trees and shrubs annually.
Our goal is to plant four million natives trees on farms and
community land by 2028.
An artist’s impression of Whakapuāwai at Synlait Dunsandel

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Synlait Milk Limited · 1028 Heslerton Road, RD13 Rakaia, Canterbury, New Zealand · +643 373 3000 · www.synlait.com

NZX: SML
ASX: SM1
12 December 2019

Synlait native tree programme launched by Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of
New Zealand

The team from Synlait Dunsandel today hosted Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern who launched
Whakapuāwai, an environmental programme connecting, our people, our farmers, and our community
through the planting of native trees.

Whakapuāwai is a wide-reaching environmental programme that incorporates the establishment of an
industrial scale nursery to propagate native plants. The 15-hectare site at Synlait Dunsandel, will be
capable of growing more than one million native trees and shrubs annually, and our goal is to plant four
million native trees on farms and community land by 2028.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern opened Whakapuāwai planting a kowhai, a native New Zealand tree, that
now sit s alongside more than 1,000 natives already planted. Synlait staff will also receive one paid day per
year to plant natives as a way of supporting commitments to our farmers and communities to jointly
restore land in Canterbury.

Synlait’s CEO Leon Clement commented: “We can’t solve environmental challenges on our own, but
through Whakapuāwai we can lead by example and help connect our milk suppliers and community
groups to make a real difference. New Zealanders are passionate about creating a sustainable future for
our country, and at Synlait, we are in an ideal position to shape the change needed in our industry. It’s our
purpose to do milk differently for a healthier world, and Whakapuāwai brings this to life.”

“Our customers, and their consumers, have rapidly shifting expectations when it comes to how we care for
our planet, people and animals, and Synlait is responding to these demands to ensure a healthier world for
all. It’s our business to shape a future that ensures agricultural and industry is fit for a better world.”

The Prime Minister was joined by the Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor and Synlait staff, milk
suppliers and local iwi members at the event.

The Prime Minister also visited New Zealand’s first large-scale electrode boiler while at Synlait, which
provides renewable process heat for company’s advanced dairy liquid packing facility. Synlait made a
deliberate decision to not build another coal boiler is part of company’s bold sustainability strategy
announced in 2018, which leads the way to a lower emissions future for New Zealand as we work to reach
our goal of reducing off-farm greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2028.

BACKGROUND

What does Whakapuāwai mean?

Whakapuāwai means “to cause to blossom, develop, flourish, prosper, thrive”. It is Synlait’s commitment to
restoring and regenerating native ecosystems, waterways and wetlands, flora and fauna. It is about
drawing people and groups together to improve water quality and restore biodiversity and re-establish
mahinga kai – the places and natural resources that are culturally important to Māori and our community.

More information

For further background about Synlait’s Whakapuāwai Programme and Electrode Boiler please see the fact
sheets released alongside this announcement.

You can read more about Synlait’s sustainability strategy in our ‘Sustainability at Synlait
’ report released last
month.

Synlait Milk Limited · 1028 Heslerton Road, RD13 Rakaia, Canterbury, New Zealand · +643 373 3000 · www.synlait.com


For more information about Synlait visit www.synlait.com
or contact:

Media
Linda Chalmers
Senior Communications Advisor – External
P: +64 21 951 347
E: linda.chalmers@synlait.com


Investors
Hannah Lynch
Corporate Affairs Manager
P: +64 21 252 8990
E: hannah.lynch@synlait.com