Towards Zero Fossil CO2 Emission
in the European
Food and Beverage industry
www.green-foods.eu
GREENFOODS – Co-funded by the Intelligent Energy Europe programme of the European Union
General Objective
The European food and beverage industry has a significant potential to improve its energy
efficiency and increase its use of renewable energy. By achieving a reduction of production costs
and fossil fuel carbon emissions, global competitiveness of the industry can be fostered and
secured, especially for SMEs. GREENFOODS has developed a branch concept and several tools and
resources for the European food and beverage SMEs to increase their energy efficiency and
promote the use of renewable energy. This has been supported and complemented by energy
audits, sector-specific trainings on energy efficiency and renewable energies, and the development
of a tailor-made funding and financing system for the food and beverage industry SMEs.
Results Overview
GREENFOODS Branch Concept: Tool for identification and evaluation of energy efficiency
measures and the integration of renewable energy in the food and beverage industry
GREENFOODS WikiWeb: Online compendium on unit operations, process technologies, energy
supply, energy efficiency, renewable energy and best practice examples
Virtual Energy Competence Centres (VECC): National one-stop-shops for knowledge transfer,
training, measurement equipment rental , consultancy, networking, etc.
Training Courses: Performance of detailed training and provision of training material on energy
efficiency, specific tools directed to energy savings, the use of renewable energy and CO2
reduction in the food and beverage industry
Energy Audits: Results of more than 200 basic and 45 detailed energy audits focussing on and
evaluating the potential of energy efficiency and renewable energy followed by 11
implementations of identified measures in the European food and beverage industry
Funding and Financing Schemes: Recommendations for a tailor-made funding and financing
schemes for European food and beverage industry (focus SMEs) based on survey of existing
schemes, demand of the SMEs and identified soft barriers of these
Dissemination material: Reports, newsletters, press releases, brochures, articles, presentations
and posters available online
www.green-foods.eu
GREENFOODS – Co-funded by the Intelligent Energy Europe programme of the European Union
GREENFOODS TOOLS
GREENFOODS has developed three main tools for enhancing the assessment
and implementation of energy efficiency measures and renewable energies in
the food and beverage industries
GREENFOODS Branch Concept
The GREENFOODS Branch Concept is an easy, quick and
comprehensive tool helping the food and beverage industry
evaluating energy efficiency alternatives and renewable
energy integration. It includes energetic, economic and
ecologic evaluation of the status quo and the identification
and evaluation of energy efficiency measures at the process
and system levels, as well as the integration of renewables.
This
free
of
charge
tool
is
available
online
via
http://www.green-foods.eu/greenfoods-branch-concept/
GREENFOODS WikiWeb
The
GREENFOODS
WikiWeb
is
a
free
online
compendium of energy efficiency measures and
integration of renewable energy at the process and
system levels. It compiles tailor-made information
about
process
and
unit
operations,
alternative
techniques for energy efficiency and renewable energy,
case studies, etc. specific for the various sub-sectors of
the food and beverage industry. http://www.greenfoods.eu/wiki/
Virtual Energy Competence Centres
GREENFOODS has established national Virtual Energy
Competence Centres in Poland, Austria, Spain, Germany, the
UK and France. These Centres are acting as one-stop-shops
offering information for interested SMEs, consultants and
managers on available trainings, optimization measures,
knowledge transfer, measurement equipment rental, funding,
consultancy,
networking,
etc.
Contact
information:
http://www.green-foods.eu/virtual-competence-center/
www.green-foods.eu
GREENFOODS – Co-funded by the Intelligent Energy Europe programme of the European Union
GREENFOODS TRAINING COURSE
GREENFOODS has developed a new and specific training course on energy
efficiency and renewable energies for the food and beverage industry
Contents
The GREENFOODS training course is tailor-made for SMEs of
the food and beverage industry. Following the steps of an
energy audit (EN 16247), the training deals with the
evaluation of the energy demand of processes and the energy
supply. Based on this, trainees learn how to increase the
energy efficiency of processes, heat recovery and efficient
energy supply (heating, cooling, compressed air, etc.),
followed by the economic evaluation of the feasibility of
renewable energy (solar thermal, biomass, biogas, heat
pumps, etc.) linked to available national funding schemes. All
steps are accompanied by the practical use of the GREENFOODS branch concept and a practical test case.
Duration and Target Audience
Duration of the training is 24 hours, which is presented over
3 to 6 days). The training is directed to process and
production and other staff with similar scopes of work
within the food and beverage industries, including energy
and environmental managers. Furthermore, it is of great
interest to suppliers and developers of technologies and
equipment,
energy
consultants
and
auditors,
public
authorities or industry associations. Training material and
announcement of further trainings beyond the project
lifetime are online: http://www.green-foods.eu/training/
Certification and Outlook
The GREENFOODS training course is available in Austria, France,
Germany, Poland, Spain and the UK and will be offered in other
countries in the future. These efforts are also linked to the ongoing
integration of the training as a module in the scheme of EUREM
(European Energy Manager) and equivalent trainings. After the
successful completion of the training, trainees obtain a certificate
issued by the national GREENFOODS training coordinator.
www.green-foods.eu
GREENFOODS – Co-funded by the Intelligent Energy Europe programme of the European Union
FUNDING and FINANCING SCHEMES
GREENFOODS recommendations for a tailor-made funding and financing
scheme for SMEs of the European food and beverage industry based on
survey results identifying the needs of SMEs and the barriers of available
schemes
Survey on Available Schemes
More than 75 different funding and financing schemes
focussing on energy efficiency and renewable energy
were identified in Austria, France, Germany, Poland,
Spain and the UK and summarised in a detailed report.
An online survey, conducted among energy managers
and SMEs, evaluated the feasibility and accessibility of
these schemes and by this, country-specific differences
were identified.
Funding Demands / Barriers of SMEs
An online survey assessed the funding demands of the food and
beverage SMEs and the barriers preventing them from using
existing funding and financing schemes. What makes particular
instruments more attractive than others and how do SMEs
perceive
their
effectiveness,
availability,
advantages
and
disadvantages? Results are available in the funding section of the
GREENFOODS website.
Tailor-made Funding and Financing for SMEs
Based on these findings, GREENFOODS compared features of existing instruments with the needs of the
industry SME target group, and developed a set of recommendations for improving funding and financial
instruments. Investment grants and subsidies were identified as the best way to support SMEs looking to
implement energy efficiency measures and integrate renewable energy. But technical assistance (e.g.
energy audit) was found also to be crucial. A special approach for small implementations as “fast track”
projects e.g. based on a list of recommended measures, materials, and equipment was found to be
advantageous. In the case of bigger projects, results indicated that the focus should be wide, including
state-of-the-art and innovative technologies, and a streamlined application process to reduce bureaucratic
requirements is preferred. Full versions of the above mentioned reports, national instruments and
surveys are available online: http://www.green-foods.eu/funding-and-financing-schemes
www.green-foods.eu
GREENFOODS – Co-funded by the Intelligent Energy Europe programme of the European Union
GREENFOODS AUDITS and IMPLEMENTATIONS
It is well-known that frontrunners implementing energy efficiency measures
and renewable energy are necessary, especially in the food and beverage
industry, to overcome reservations. GREENFOODS case studies demonstrate
the potential and the feasibility.
Potential of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
204 energy assessments were performed in
the most energy consuming sub-sectors
(bakeries, meat-, fruit- and vegetables-,
milk-processing, drink and breweries) of the
food and beverage industry. Out of these, 45
companies were selected for detailed audits.
Both studies indicated a significant potential
for increasing energy efficiency (demand
reduction)
and
integrating
renewable
energy, thereby reducing fossil fuel CO2
emissions. In total, more than 150,000 MWh
of energy consumption were identified for
reduction and more than 30,000 t CO2e were identified for potential mitigation. The economic evaluation
identified that a 15 % energy reduction is cost effective and feasible for the audited companies. Detailed
energy efficiency improvement and renewable energy integration recommendations were proposed after
the detailed audits. 11 of these cases were selected for implementation within the lifetime of the
GREENFOODS project.
Implementations
A total of 11 companies were accompanied through an implementation
phase, covering all selected sub-sectors and company sizes from medium to
micro-enterprises. Energy efficiency measures were implemented both at
the process level (e.g. optimisation of heating and cooling rate of the
process) and the system level (e.g. heat recovery from process and chiller).
Innovative cooling systems, switchovers from steam to hot water
distribution, CHP systems, solar thermal and PV or replacement of coal
burner were also implemented. Reports on all activities from basic audits to
implementations
and
sector-specific
conclusions
are
http://www.green-foods.eu/best-practice/
www.green-foods.eu
GREENFOODS – Co-funded by the Intelligent Energy Europe programme of the European Union
online
GREENFOODS consortium
R&D Institutions
AEE – Institute for Sustainable Technologies *
AEE INTEC
AT
AEA
AT
TU Graz
AT
Ainia Technological Centre
AINIA
ES
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
UNEW
UK
BRI
UK
UNI KASSEL
DE
HFT Stuttgart
DE
WKO
AT
Bongfish
AT
Polish National Conservation Energy
KAPE
PL
Escan S.L.
ESCAN
ES
Aiguasol
ES
FIAB
ES
Austrian Energy Agency
Graz University of Technology
Campden BRI
University of Kassel
Stuttgart University of Applied Science
Companies & Associations
Austrian Federal Economic Chamber
Bongfish
Advanced solar thermal energy systems
Spanish food and drink industry federation
*Project coordinator
Contact
Christoph Brunner
AEE – Institute for Sustainable Technologies | Feldgasse 19, A-8200 Gleisdorf, Austria
Email: c.brunner@aee.at | Tel: +43 3112 5886 470 | Fax: +43 3112 5886 18
Partner and national contact points see www.green-foods.eu
#GREENFOODSproject
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=4989642&mostPopular=&trk=tyah
GREENFOODSproject
The sole responsibility for the content of this brochure lies with the authors. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union.
Neither the EASME nor the European Commission are responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.
www.green-foods.eu
GREENFOODS – Co-funded by the Intelligent Energy Europe programme of the European Union