Hardwick Meat Works Installation of Heat Pump to capture waste heat

Hardwick Meat Works Installation of Heat Pump to capture waste heat is an industrial energy efficiency project located at the Hardwick Meat Works facility in Kyneton, Victoria. The site is situated approximately 85km northwest of Melbourne and 60km southeast of Bendigo. Registered in February 2023, the project operates within the boundary of the existing meat processing plant.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Industrial and Commercial Emissions Reduction) Methodology Determination 2021. This methodology awards carbon credits for projects that reduce emissions from industrial or commercial operations by upgrading equipment, switching fuels, or improving energy efficiency. Specifically, this project involves the installation of a 1MW high-lift ammonia heat pump. This system captures low-grade waste heat from the facility's existing refrigeration plant (condensers and oil coolers) and upgrades it to heat water to approximately 75°C–85°C. This hot water is then used for sterilization and cleaning processes, significantly reducing the facility's reliance on natural gas boilers.

Kyneton is located in the Macedon Ranges region, an area characterized by a cool temperate climate with distinct seasons. The region typically receives moderate to high rainfall, averaging around 750mm to 800mm annually, with cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. The local geology features nutrient-rich volcanic soils, primarily basalt-derived red clays and loams, which support the region's extensive mixed farming and grazing industries. While the project site itself is industrial, the surrounding landscape is heavily utilized for cattle and sheep grazing, aligning with the facility's function as a major beef and lamb processor.

The project proponent, Kyneton Food Solutions Pty Ltd, is a subsidiary of Kilcoy Global Foods, which acquired the family-owned Hardwicks business in 2021. This specific heat pump installation was the subject of a feasibility study and subsequent funding support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity (A2EP). It serves as a demonstration project for the meat processing industry, showcasing how electrification and waste heat recovery can replace fossil fuel usage in industrial process heat applications.