Arla Foods introduces new electric boiler to reduce CO2 emission
Denmark—Arla Foods Ingredients, which offers a wide variety of milk-derived and whey-based ingredients, has announced the installation of an electric boiler at its largest production site, another major step on its CO2 reduction journey.
The new e-boiler is the company’s largest and the first at the Danmark Protein whey processing facility in Videbaek. It will cut annual CO2e (CO2 equivalent) emissions by 3,500 tonnes.
Thomas Lauritsen, global sustainability manager at Arla Foods Ingredients, said, “The electrification of energy-intensive processes is essential to achieve our ambitious climate targets while also meeting the growing demand for high-quality whey ingredients.
“This is the latest initiative in our drive towards a carbon net zero future and a key element of our commitment to phase out our use of natural gas for energy production. It’s unlikely to be our last electric boiler – we see major potential for this technology at other powder-producing sites.”
Installed in a building that previously housed a gas turbine, the new e-boiler will be able to deliver 16 megawatts of capacity—equivalent to 8,000 household kettles—and take on the work of two gas boilers.
It will produce steam for the high-temperature needs of the facility’s spray-drying towers, which create powdered whey ingredients.
According to the company, its overall target is to reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions from its operations by 42% between 2015 and 2030.
However, when anticipated growth is factored in, the figure it will need to achieve is closer to 80%. The reductions resulting from the new boiler will account for around 5% of these efforts.
Arla Foods Ingredients’ measures will contribute significantly to the climate goals set by its parent company, the Arla Foods Group.
It is working to cut its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 63% between 2015 and 2030, a target that the Science Based Targets initiative has approved as consistent with the reductions required to keep global warming to 1.5°C.
A shift away from gas towards electricity from renewable sources is at the heart of Arla Foods Ingredients’ ambitious carbon reduction strategy.
Last year, it announced a €32 million (US$33.02 million) investment in an electric heat pump facility that is scheduled to be operational this year. By the end of 2025, all Arla Foods Ingredients plants in Europe are on target to run on electricity from 100% renewable sources.
Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
