Tetra Pak has announced a collaboration with Absolicon, a Swedish solar thermal company, to offer a standardised solution for industrial equipment powered by renewable thermal energy (heat)[2].
Absolicon has designed a scalable solar thermal module that can be integrated with current and new UHT lines and enable a range of decarbonisation options, including a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions2, based on the customer requirement and location.
Tetra Pak’s UHT processing line for high temperature sterilisation of dairy products is the first solution to be offered together with a scalable solar thermal supply, with the potential to reduce fossil fuel usage by up to 40%[3]. The first module is forecasted to be installed during 2024, before scaling to a worldwide market.
Nicole Uvenbeck, Director Factory Sustainable Solutions & OEM Components, Tetra Pak says: “At Tetra Pak, we are committed to enabling our customers to improve their environmental footprint through optimising their operations and equipment. We recently launched a new business solution called Factory Sustainable Solutions, where we help our customers optimise energy, water and CIP (Cleaning in Place) on a factory level.
“Absolicon’s solar thermal solutions are a good fit with this new Tetra Pak offering, as well as supporting our wider Net Zero Roadmap, where we have committed to reducing our value chain emissions and scaling decarbonisation solutions for our suppliers, customers and own operations. The collaboration with Absolicon is a positive step in this direction, providing Tetra Pak with a new and exciting avenue to support customers to reduce their energy demands by replacing fossil-derived energy with solar thermal solutions.”
Joakim Byström, CEO, Absolicon says: “By implementing clean thermal supply to their equipment, Tetra Pak are once again proving they are pioneers. They have global access to the world’s food and beverage companies and can become a change driver for the sector’s transition from fossil fuels to renewable heat1. We are delighted to be part of this collaboration with Tetra Pak and to launch the first equipment line powered by Absolicon solar thermal, as part of our mission to reduce the world’s carbon emissions.”
In a typical food production plant, two thirds of the energy consumption is thermal energy, with electricity forming the other third. As most of the thermal demand is in the form of low to medium temperature, the food industry is a perfect fit for solar thermal energy. The technology can have a perceptible impact on the environmental performance of equipment powered by solar thermal power modules (STPM) compared to equipment heated by fossil fuel-powered boilers. Put into context, heat generation today constitutes 40% of the world’s total CO2 emissions,[4] according to the International Energy Agency. Due to the performance and scalability of the Absolicon STPM for Tetra Pak, the design will decarbonise a major step in the UHT process and reduce fossil fuel usage.
[2] Solar thermal energy is recognized as a renewable heat and energy source by the International Renewable Energy Agency -. https://www.irena.org/Energy-Transition/Technology/Industry
[3] Based on tests performed by Absolicon with Tetra Pak equipment in Southern Europe, replacing a fossil fuel-powered boiler with Absolicon solar thermal power modules
[4] Heat – Renewables 2019 – Analysis - IEA
More information about Tetra Pak is available at http://www.tetrapak.com/