Powering Good: Kairos Food Rescue Cuts Energy Costs with Solar

Take a look at how renewable energy is helping a local charity power its mission. At Kairos Food Rescue, they rescue food, feed people, and build community, and with the help of Harrisons Solar, they’ve found a way to make their energy usage more sustainable and affordable.

Local business owner Chris Dearsley from Harrisons Solar in Canterbury partnered with Kairos to address the rising energy costs at their large food distribution warehouse. The warehouse, which processes 70 tonnes of food each month, was facing ever-increasing power bills. To offset this, Kairos applied to the Meridian Community Decarbonisation Fund and secured funding for solar panels.

Choosing the right partner

‍After receiving funding, Kairos needed to find the right supplier to install their solar system. Stuart, General Manager at Kairos, recalls, “Out of the companies we got quotes from, Harrisons stood out. They took the time to understand how we operate—busy during the day, closed at night—and tailored a system that fit perfectly with our needs. Solar was the clear choice to cut our energy costs, and Harrisons made the process simple.”

A powerful solution

Kairos installed 40 premium Aiko solar panels connected to a 15-kilowatt Fronius inverter, complete with a Fronius monitoring system. This setup allows them to track both energy generation from the sun and their overall consumption. The system is designed to cover 50% of Kairos’ annual energy needs, producing 20,000 kilowatt-hours per year—equivalent to $4,000 in energy savings annually, over the next 25-plus years.

Tailored energy solutions

Chris Dearsley explains how Harrisons Solar goes above and beyond for commercial, charity, and community groups like Kairos: “We gather their energy consumption data and use advanced software to accurately size the system, ensuring they get the maximum benefits for decades to come.”

A lasting impact

‍For Kairos, the switch to solar has been transformative. “It’s been an amazing experience working with Harrisons,” says Stuart. “Not only are we saving on power bills, but we’re also able to charge our electric vans and further our mission with the money saved.”

As for Chris and the Harrisons Solar team, they’re proud to support Kairos in their work. “We’re excited to see the system performing for many years to come,” Chris adds.

With this partnership, Kairos can focus more on what matters most—helping the community—while Harrisons takes care of the energy needs.

‍

‍