The asset
A 9,500 m² cold-chain distribution facility serving the upper North Island. Annual electricity use of 4.1 GWh, dominated by refrigeration plant. A flat metal roof that had been quietly written off as solar-ready for years.
What the plan found
The refrigeration plant was running 8% above its commissioned setpoints, and head pressure control had drifted. Defrost cycles were running on time-clocks rather than demand. The roof could carry 720 kW of solar based on structural capacity. The wholesale electricity price profile aligned well with daytime PV generation.
What we delivered
Tether scoped both tracks in parallel. Refrigeration tuning was delivered in-house alongside the incumbent refrigeration contractor. The solar EPC was tendered, awarded, and installed across nine weeks. M&V was wrapped around both interventions and runs continuously through the platform.
The numbers
- Refrigeration tuning saved $96,000 per year on its own, payback under nine months
- 720 kW solar generates 38% of annual demand
- Combined annual saving of $412,000
- 4.2-year blended payback on the full programme
- Asset register now tracks plant condition into next renewal cycle
Why it worked
The two tracks reinforced each other. Refrigeration tuning lowered demand. Solar covered most of what remained. Neither would have been as compelling on its own.
