5.3 The emissions from the European production facilities
Our emissions to air are largely due to the use of fossil fuels (NOx, SOx). Since the mag
nitude of these emissions to air is directly proportional to the consumption of heat,
the quantity of heat that is generated is indicative of the levels of the emissions. In
1999 we were able to achieve a further reduction in the emissions to air as a result of
the conversion to cleaner fuels such as natural gas and the implementation of a water-
injection system in the gas turbines of the Zoeterwoude (the Netherlands) brewery.
This resulted in an 8% reduction of the brewery's total emission of NOx from 95.6 ton
nes to 87.8 tonnes, stabilising the SOx emission on a level of 0.3 tonnes. In some cases
in the malting plants sulphur dioxide is added to the air which dries the malt. This is
done to prevent the formation of undesirable compounds from nitrogen oxides and
amino acids in the malt. A minor fraction of the added S02 will be discharged to the air
via the exhaust system. The emission of C02 as a result of the use of fossil fuels is not
included in this report due to the wide range of different power stations.
Total NOx emission all production units
breweries
maltings
soft drinks
1999
1998
1997
kg NOx/year 0
413,314
38,690
6,363
501,717
37,575
3,462
354,150
38,726
3,454
200,000
400,000
600,000
Total SOx emission all production units
kg SOx/year 0
1999
breweries
maltings
soft drinks
EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE
45