Regional concrete and quarry producer Mawsons has enabled 100 per cent of its mains power supply to be sourced from renewable electricity.
The long-running family-owned extractive business has combined solar, wind and hydro power as part of its sustainability strategy, as it aims to reduce the environmental impact of its 50 sites that run throughout regional Victoria and southern New South Wales.
The renewable electricity grid will power plant and equipment in Mawsons’ concrete batch operations, hard rock quarries, gravel and sand pits, workshops, laboratories and administration offices in Victoria and NSW.
Mawsons estimates the power across these sites accounts for the “vast majority” of its yearly electricity consumption. About 5200 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions will be saved each year through Mawsons’ adoption of renewable electricity.
From September, the company will buy its mains supply electricity through ENGIE, which generates and sells electricity across the globe. ENGIE’s Australian division owns several of the largest renewable energy facilities in the country.
Mawsons managing director John Mawson said he is proud of his company being the first Australian concrete and quarrying business to switch to 100 per cent renewable electricity.
“We believe that this is the right thing for us to do and that now is the right time to do it,” he said. “Anything that helps to reduce global warming and lower the chances of drought and bushfires in the future is well worthwhile. We also believe in helping local industries to grow and the renewable power sector is a major investor and employer in regional Australia.”
According to John Mawson, the price of renewable power is expected to drop in the future. “While renewable power is a little more expensive now, we expect that its costs will continue to come down. We also have a program installing solar collector panels across many of our sites,” he added.
It is hoped the solar power will be fed back into the grid, which the company expects will drive down costs of not only its power, but its product prices as a result.