Background
With 1,200 square metres of greenhouses, founders, Warren Nichol and Mark Millis started Flavorite in 1993 and set out to produce the best best-tasting Australian grown tomatoes 12 months of the year.
Today, Flavorite, is the largest glasshouse producer of fresh fruit & vegetables in the Southern Hemisphere, with six facilities across regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne that allow them to grow, pack and distribute their delicious produce. They specialise in growing tomatoes, capsicums, cucumbers, and blueberries and sell produce all over Australia and overseas.
With over 70 hectares of glasshouse production, Flavorite’s glasshouses set the benchmark for sustainable growing systems. They allow Flavorite to drive greater efficiencies, reuse resources, produce less waste and save more water whilst maximising productivity.
- Client Flavorite
- Completion Date 2024
- Industry Agriculture
- Location Victoria
About Flavorite
Requirement
With the capacity to produce an impressive 80+ kilograms of fruit per square metre from their truss tomato crops, power reliability is critical to their operations. A power outage lasting just a few hours could result in millions of dollars in losses.
Adding to the challenge, Flavorite sources its electricity from AGL, which occasionally requests them to operate off-grid during peak summer demand to prevent grid overload and avoid incurring significant costs—up to hundreds of thousands of dollars—for short periods.
During these peak times, Flavorite needs to seamlessly transition from grid power to generators without disrupting their operations.
Solution
To address this critical need, we supplied 2x Cat C32 1100kVA GC Range units equipped with advanced microgrid systems. These systems enable seamless transitions between grid power and generator operation, ensuring uninterrupted energy supply during peak demand periods.
The solution is supported by William Adams, Flavorite’s trusted local servicing partner, and includes a 10-year standby warranty, providing peace of mind with no unplanned operational expenses for the next decade.
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Seamless Power Transition
The microgrid systems enable Flavorite to transition smoothly from grid power to generator power during peak demand without disrupting glasshouse operations. This ensures that critical systems continue running even during grid outages or when operating off-grid.
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Advanced Technology
The C32 1100kVA GC Range units are designed for high efficiency and reliability, meeting the demanding energy needs of a large-scale glasshouse operation.
Results
This comprehensive solution safeguards Flavorite’s high-tech glasshouse operations, ensuring the reliability and resilience required to meet their demanding production goals.
Supported by William Adams, their local servicing partner just one hour away, the system enables a changeover with just 10 minutes’ notice, a major improvement over the previous manual generator system. Remote changeover initiation via web browser or smartphone helps meet critical deadlines, while remote monitoring and diagnostics provide full control.
With seamless transitions between grid power and backup generators, Flavorite experiences zero downtime, stabilising costs and supporting efficient, sustainable crop growth.
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10-Year Standby Warranty
The solution is supported by a 10-year standby warranty, ensuring that Flavorite’s power system remains operational without the risk of unplanned operational costs for the next decade. This gives Flavorite peace of mind knowing that their power needs are reliably met for years to come.
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Local Service Support
William Adams, Flavorite's trusted local servicing partner, is located just one hour away for ongoing maintenance and support.
Powering the Future of Agriculture
Our partnership with Flavorite to implement a seamless standby power solution has transformed the way they approach energy reliability. The ability to maintain control over their energy supply—whether on-grid or off-grid—means they can focus on what they do best: growing the highest quality produce.
With this reliable energy solution in place, Flavorite is positioned to meet the growing demand for fresh, high-quality crops in an increasingly competitive market. They can continue to innovate, expand, and grow with confidence, all while remaining committed to amplifying the flavour of their produce in the most sustainable way.
To see how Flavorite continues to lead the way in sustainable agriculture, click here.
To learn more about how our power solutions can benefit your business, contact us today.