Harvest

6 September 2007

Red Stag Timber in Rotorua operates the Waipa sawmill and associated timber processing operations. With energy and electricity supplied by the cogeneration plant, the Mill is largely energy self-sufficient.

Cogeneration uses a single energy source to produce hot water, steam and electricity. Since 1939, wood residues from the sawmilling process have been used to generate steam to dry timber, energy for machinery and equipment and electricity generation.

In 1986 a new 20 MW boiler and a 3.5 MW electricity generator were commissioned for the Mill. In 1992, the boiler capacity was increased to 40 MW. When the Mill is not operating at full capacity, there is the potential to sell electricity back into the national grid.