Food & Drink

The food and drink industry uses significant amounts of energy throughout its supply chain. It is required for various processes involved in food production, growing, processing, packaging, warehouse storage and distribution.

The food and drink industry is increasingly adopting sustainable practices and switching to eco-technologies to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact. This includes investing in renewable energy sources, optimising production processes and de-carbonising heat to minimise energy waste, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions throughout the supply chain to meet net zero targets.

Agricultural activities such as land preparation, irrigation, planting, and harvesting use large amounts of energy. Machinery powered by fossil fuels, such as tractors and combines, are commonly used in modern agriculture. Energy is also required for operating irrigation systems, powering greenhouses, and maintaining optimal conditions for livestock farming. An area where an more carbon friendly alternatives can be considered is the heating and chilling of spaces and produce.

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Energy plays a vital role in food processing and manufacturing facilities for heating, cooling, refrigeration, drying, pasteurisation, sterilisation and cooking processes. Industrial-scale food processing equipment, such as ovens, fryers, boilers, and refrigeration systems, require a steady supply of energy to operate efficiently, heating and chilling is a key area that can draw upon renewable systems for power.

Machinery used for packaging, sealing, labelling, melting or cooling in food and beverage production facilities also require energy at specific temperatures. Energy is crucial for maintaining proper storage conditions and the cold chain for perishable food and drink products. Refrigeration systems and cold storage facilities, including warehouses and transportation vehicles, require a significant amount of energy to preserve the quality and safety of food products during storage and transportation.

In retail operations such as grocery stores, supermarkets, restaurants, and cafes, energy is consumed for lighting, refrigeration, heating, cooling, and cooking purposes. Energy-efficient equipment and systems such a renewable solar, CHP and heat pump technology, can help reduce energy consumption in these establishments industry to reduce its environmental impact and ensure a sustainable and resilient food supply chain.

Calibrate can help in this mission by proposing and installing solutions to transform an organisation’s energy profile and meet the Government’s agenda to reach net zero. We can support in making the transition to installing renewables, as well as upgrade or expand existing systems, making your business more sustainable and positively impact your bottom line and carbon profile.

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THE NET ZERO GROWTH PLAN

Brewing is an energy-intensive process that requires significant amounts of energy for various stages of production to convert raw materials like malted barley, hops, water, and yeast into beer.

The initial stage, malting, where barley grains are germinated and dried, requires energy for heating and drying the grains to the desired moisture content, which affects the quality of the malt. The brewing process involves mashing, boiling and fermenting the malted barley. Mashing requires hot water to extract sugars from the malt, which entails energy consumption for heating the water.

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Boiling is necessary to extract the bitter compounds from hops and sterilise the wort. Fermentation, where yeast converts sugars to alcohol and carbon dioxide, also requires temperature control After the boiling stage, the wort needs to be rapidly cooled to the desired fermentation temperature. Cooling systems can be energy-intensive, especially for large-scale breweries.

Energy is used for various aspects of post-production for packaging, including bottling, canning and kegging and heat for cleaning the equipment to maintain quality and prevent contamination. Additionally, refrigeration is essential to keep the beer cold during storage and transportation.

To reduce energy consumption and minimise the environmental impact, many breweries have been adopting energy-efficient practices and technologies such as automation to improve process efficiency and reduce energy waste, heat recovery systems to capture and reuse the waste heat generated during brewing processes, employing renewable energy sources, such
as solar panels or heat pumps to partially or fully power the brewing operations.

The brewing industry is embracing the importance of energy efficiency and sustainability, and many breweries are taking steps to lessen their environmental impact while maintaining the quality of their products.