Uncovering the potential
of solar thermal energy
tilt
Five studies conducted by Heineken in 2010 have
shown the potential for using solar heat in three of the
Company's production units (two breweries and one maltery).
By retrofitting existing equipment and investing in new
technology, Heineken could make additional significant
steps to reduce its carbon footprint.
The study was conducted by Heineken in co-operation with
AEE INTEC, an Austrian institute for sustainable technologies.
They looked at the potential of solar heat, the process by which
sunlight warms water via solar panels. The study covered five
production units located in two different climate zones in Europe.
The results showed that three of the production units received
sufficient, usable sunlight: the Göss brewery in Austria would be
able to heat the mash tuns used during the brewing process, the
Valencia brewery could use heat to pasteurise beer and the Lisbon
malting facility could use heat to dry the malt.
Solar heat would require the installation of special solar panels
and the retrofit of existing equipment and processes.
"In Göss, solar heat will account for an estimated 18 per cent of
the mash tuns' energy use. In Valencia, this is 24 per cent for two
pasteurisers, while in Lisbon it is 18 per cent for the malt drying
process," says Herman van de Bergh, Manager Global Energy
and Water Programme.
The next step is for Heineken to apply for joint funding of
the expensive pilot projects with the European Commission for
Energy. These pilots will test whether solar heat is feasible and
economic in relation to the day-to-day operations of the three
production units. A decision by the European Commission is
expected in September 2011, and if successful, the project
should be completed in April 2014.
Beyond that, Heineken has a vision of making large-scale use of
solar heat where possible. "We could retrofit existing production
units, but our ideal is to design process equipment to use solar
heat from the outset. Southern Europe, Northern Africa and
countries like Mexico have the perfect climate for solar heat,"
says Herman.
Sustainability Report 2010
