New industrial process heat consent requirements affecting covered crop growers

Changes to the national direction for greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from industrial process heat have been introduced. These changes will affect covered crop growers with heating systems that emit more than 500T of CO2 per year.

Summary

Regional councils must now consider the effects of GHG emissions when assessing resource consent applications for the use of boiler systems which burn fossil fuels. Fossil fuels include: coal, waste oil, diesel, LPG and natural gas

The new guideline for consenting has three key points:

1. New coal boilers are banned, and existing coal boilers will be phased out by 2037. This will affect all covered crop growers who use coal as a heating source.

2. Any fossil fuel boilers which emit more than 500T CO₂ per year will now require a consent. You can find out if you emit more than 500T CO₂ per year by using the table below (this table should be used as a general guide, as depending on where you get your fuel these quantities may vary).

Fuel Type	Typical Units
Natural Gas	9,400 GJ
LPG	170,000 kg
Coal – sub-bituminous	250 Tonnes
Diesel	187,000 Litres
Waste Oil	170,000 Litres

3. The third and most significant change is that consent applications will now need to include an emissions reduction plan. An emissions reduction plan is a report that discusses how your business will reduce its emissions. The plan must set actionable targets. These targets will need to be achieved as part of the new consent.

When does this come into effect?

For new boilers that are being installed, the changes are effective immediately (excluding coal as new coal boilers are now banned)

For existing boilers, it depends on whether the boiler is currently consented under the old system:

• Boilers currently consented will need to address the new changes once their current consent expires
• Boilers currently unconsented will see the changes come into place on 26 January 2025.

More information

For more information, click here to access an article providing a description of the changes and a discussion of what an emissions reduction plan is required to include.

Templates 

Templates for emission reduction plans are available on the EECA website, under the tab DIY Emissions Plan. These templates are designed to assist with the creation of an emissions reduction plan. Growers with more than 500 Tonnes of CO2 emissions need to have started a plan by 26 January 2025. 

Please contact Vegetables New Zealand Energy Engineer, Ellery Peters to discuss these requirements further:

Phone: 027 322 2887
Email: ellery.peters@freshvegetables.co.nz