Heineken Spain and Engie Spain have jointly inaugurated the largest solar thermal plant for industrial purposes in Europe. This historic event, graced by the presence of Spanish President Pedro Sánchez, unfolded in the sunny city of Seville on a momentous Saturday, underscoring Spain's commitment to embracing clean and renewable energy sources.
This cutting-edge facility boasts a formidable power capacity of 30 MW, a storage capability of 68 MWh, and spans across eight hectares of land, strategically situated on Heineken Spain's Seville factory grounds. Its primary mission is to fulfill the brewery's energy requirements, with an ambitious target of significantly curbing its dependence on fossil fuels, resulting in a substantial annual reduction of nearly 7,000 tons of CO2e – a figure akin to the weight of the iconic Eiffel Tower.
What sets this project apart is its innovative fusion of thermodynamic concepts and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) solar thermal technology within an industrial context. This unique amalgamation enhances energy reliability and availability by doubling the production capacity of superheated water for industrial processes, all the while avoiding the use of synthetic oils that could have detrimental environmental effects.
Etienne Strijp, President of Heineken Spain, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “At Heineken, we pioneered sustainability in the beer sector over two decades ago. Today, with Engie's collaboration, we embark on a truly innovative project that positions Spain at the forefront of the renewable energy transition. Thanks to this new solar thermal plant, we produce and package beers using renewable energy, adding value to the economic fabric and environment of this cherished region.”
Loreto Ordóñez, CEO of Engie Spain, underscored their dedication to sustainable and renewable energy alternatives, saying, “With the execution and construction of this plant, we emphasize Engie's commitment to our industrial clients. We thank Heineken Spain for entrusting us with this project, which is already making their production processes cleaner and more efficient.”
Impressively, the construction of this plant was completed in a mere 12 months, surpassing initial project forecasts by nearly doubling the expected timeline. Worth noting is that the assembly was conducted exclusively by Andalusian companies, involving a total of 150,000 work hours – equivalent to over 51 years of labor for a single individual.
This remarkable initiative, funded through public-private collaboration involving Engie Spain, Heineken Spain, and various levels of public administrations, is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and managed by the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE).
The partnership between Heineken Spain and Engie Spain revolves around a Thermal Purchase Agreement (TPA), in which the brewery pays for the energy consumed while providing the land. Engie commits to supplying entirely renewable energy at a pre-established rate. After 20 years, the solar thermal plant will become Heineken's property, potentially paving the way for replication of this eco-friendly model across industries that require heat for their processes without emitting CO2.
