Importance of Energy Efficiency in Food Manufacturing
The food and drink manufacturing sector is one of the largest energy consumers in the UK, underscoring the critical need for energy efficiency initiatives to mitigate environmental impact.
A report from the Food and Drink Federation calculated that over 80% of all energy used in the sector is for direct-fired applications, such as bakery ovens, or boilers. Optimising heat use is vital to managing operating costs and meeting Net Zero sustainability targets.
Process Energy understand these pressures, and work with you to deliver energy reduction, cost savings and decarbonisation. As part of our step-by-step process we start with a thermal energy audit, to measure and quantify the hotspots on site. We then deliver solutions targeting the areas which will provide large savings and a financial return.
Thermal processes such as ovens and dryers produce large amounts of energy, often wasted from flue gases. Process Energy can install waste heat exchanger solutions to capture and re-use this energy.
This energy can be delivered in multiple forms, such as hot water to replace boilers, or heating combustion air back into the system to reduce energy use. Replacing aging or faulty equipment can be the perfect time to upgrade, and introduce decarbonised solutions. Process Energy can integrate waste heat sources with energy systems on site to create a site-wide solution that minimises energy use. From waste heat pumps to hydrogen, our solutions deliver both carbon emission reduction and cost savings.
Focus Areas for Thermal Energy Audits
The following processes are most common within the food and drink manufacturing sector. These are where an energy consultation would focus, as delivering energy efficiency solutions in these areas should deliver the highest reduction in carbon emissions, and highest cost savings.
- Steam boilers and hot water systems
- Bakery ovens
- Proving
- Hot mixing
- Cooking processes including boiling, steaming, baking, and frying
- Drying