With the increasing focus on sustainability and reducing carbon emissions, many breweries are exploring the use of heat pumps as an alternative to traditional gas boilers. This shift is part of their efforts to achieve net-zero emissions goals, with companies like Guinness and New Belgium Brewing leading the way in adopting these solutions.
One of the main challenges for manufacturers looking to replace equipment is the cost, downtime, and maintenance involved. However, technology companies like AtmosZero are addressing these concerns by providing electrified heat and steam solutions that are cost-competitive and easy to integrate into existing systems.
AtmosZero’s Boiler 2.0 uses proprietary technology to extract heat from the air and convert it into steam, offering a drop-in electrified replacement for conventional boilers. This solution is designed for facilities with steam loads of 1 to 5 megawatts and allows companies to either replace or supplement their gas boilers without extensive modifications.
New Belgium Brewing, based in Fort Collins, Colorado, has already installed an industrial electric boiler from AtmosZero, which can generate up to 1 ton of steam per hour. The brewery sees this as a step towards reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and meeting its sustainability goals.
Similarly, breweries outside the United States are also taking steps to decarbonize their operations. Diageo is phasing out fossil fuels at its Guinness facility in Dublin, while Heineken in Manchester is using heat pumps to replace steam boilers as part of its net-zero ambitions.
Despite the potential benefits of heat pumps, there is still a knowledge gap and a lack of understanding about these solutions among manufacturers. Grant programs and subsidies, such as Pennsylvania’s Rise PA program and California’s Indigo program, can help offset initial investments and encourage companies to adopt heat pump technology.
Skyven Technologies is another company offering industrial steam-generating heat pumps to help overcome the upfront cost barrier. By sharing the savings with customers based on energy saved onsite, Skyven makes it more affordable for companies to transition to sustainable heating solutions. The company’s technology is designed to operate alongside traditional boilers, providing a reliable and cost-effective alternative for steam generation.
Overall, the shift towards electrified heat and steam solutions like heat pumps is a promising development in the brewing industry’s sustainability journey. By investing in these technologies and exploring grant opportunities, breweries can reduce their environmental impact and work towards a more sustainable future.
