Heineken, the well-known beverage company, has recently announced a groundbreaking partnership aimed at decarbonizing its operations at a brewery and malting plant near Lisbon, Portugal. The company has teamed up with industrial heat solutions provider Rondo Energy and energy producer EDP to install a revolutionary heat battery system that will be powered by renewable energy sources.
This innovative “heat-as-a-service” model will allow Heineken to significantly reduce carbon emissions at its plant without altering its beer brewing processes. As part of the agreement, EDP will set up a 7-megawatt-peak solar plant at Heineken’s Central de Cervejas e Bebidas brewery, which will provide power to Rondo’s 100-megawatt-hour heat battery. This battery will convert and store the renewable electricity as high-temperature heat, supplying continuous zero-carbon steam for Heineken’s production activities.
Moreover, the heat battery system will not only be powered by the onsite solar plant but will also be charged with renewable electricity from the grid through a long-term flexible power purchase agreement between Heineken and EDP. This agreement will offer 25 gigawatt-hours of renewable energy annually, enabling Heineken to maximize its use of clean energy.
The solar and thermal storage system is expected to be operational at the Portugal brewery by April 2027, pending necessary approvals. This system is set to become one of the largest heat batteries in the beverage industry globally and aims to reduce or eliminate the traditional fossil fuel boilers used by the brewing sector. The partnership between Heineken, EDP, and Rondo will transform the Portugal facility into one of the most sustainable production centers globally, operating with clean, zero-emission steam.
Magne Setnes, Heineken’s Chief Supply Chain Officer, expressed excitement about the project, highlighting how it aligns with the company’s goal to achieve net-zero status across its supply chain by 2040. Heineken, with a diverse portfolio of over 500 brands, sees this system as a replicable model that can benefit other energy-intensive sectors such as food and beverage, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and pulp and paper industries.
Overall, the collaboration between Heineken, Rondo Energy, and EDP marks a significant step towards sustainable and environmentally-friendly operations in the beverage industry. By leveraging renewable energy sources and innovative technologies, Heineken is not only reducing its carbon footprint but also setting a benchmark for other companies to follow suit.
