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Electric Boiler Upgrade Powers Skretting Australia’s Path to Net-Zero

Skretting Australia has officially wrapped up a major sustainability milestone, with the new electric boiler system at the Cambridge plant now fully operational following a scheduled shutdown that ended on June 2nd, 2025.

Skretting Australia took a major step toward its sustainability commitments with a €1.83 million (AUD 3.05 million) investment to upgrade the boiler system at our Cambridge plant. This strategic capital expenditure, fully covered in the 2023 budget, replaced two end-of-life gas boilers with low-voltage electric electrode models. The upgrade not only addresses a growing risk of operational disruption due to ageing infrastructure but also delivers a significant environmental benefit of reducing the plant’s CO₂ emissions by 8%, equivalent to 446 tonnes annually. This makes it the single largest contributor to Skretting Australia’s three-year carbon reduction plan under Nutreco’s Roadmap 2025.

Legends behind the new boiler setup. From left: Kade Sacco, Sidd Challagulla, Ayodeji Ajayi, John Mulligan, Darryl Pearce, and Gene Medlicott.

Electric Boilers Selected for Efficiency, Capacity, and Sustainability Gains

The electric boilers, each rated at 1700kW, were selected for their efficiency, lead time, cost-effectiveness, and compatibility with the existing plant footprint. The solution will also provide approximately 20% more heating capacity than the current system. While the electric option represents an additional €1.312 million investment compared to a gas-based replacement and carries a longer payback period, it is a critical choice in reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions and meeting evolving customer expectations around sustainability and climate action. 

Local Teams Power Successful Installation

Supporting infrastructure, including a new 11kV dedicated feeder and transformer, was installed to manage the increased electrical load. The project was delivered in partnership with local Tasmanian contractors and suppliers, including Ablaze, JTMEC, Cromarty, and Macquarie Builders, ensuring responsiveness during implementation and continuity for long-term maintenance. Installation was successfully completed on 2nd June 2025, just in time for the plant’s peak production season.

This project reinforces Skretting Australia’s commitment to responsible operations and the transition toward a low-carbon future, aligning operational reliability with bold environmental action and underpinned by our 2025 focus on ACT.