As decarbonization efforts across industrial North America continue, new technologies are being developed, tested, and implemented in an effort to achieve GHG emissions reduction targets.
Cascade Energy has undertaken an initiative to explore and eliminate barriers to the effective implementation of industrial heat pumps as a part of decarbonization efforts in the food and beverage industry.
So, when the opportunity arose to visit Denmark, a leader in energy efficiency and decarbonization, we couldn’t refuse!
In October, Cascade Energy was part of an American delegation invited by the Danish Sustainable Industry Alliance to learn about sustainability the Danish way. The focus of the fact-finding tour was decarbonization in the food and beverage processing industry.
Cascadians, Steve Koski and Doug Heredos spent six days learning about Danish companies and technologies promoting water and energy efficiency efforts in the food and beverage industry. A particular treat during the week was a tour of an industrial heat pump at a malt plant.
Denmark has experienced two energy crises – First, in the 1970’s, and again in 2022 when Russian natural gas supplies became less certain. As a result, Denmark has built up renewable energy to 43% of total generation. From a decarbonization perspective, this is fantastic! And it results in highly variable energy costs. Energy rates vary by the hour! They are generally higher than rates in the United States but electric rates can actually be slightly negative during periods of high wind and lots of sun. As a result of these higher and more variable costs, Danish industries have embraced energy efficiency, onsite generation, and energy storage. Denmark is pleased to promote their energy and water saving successes and companies to the world market.
While in Denmark, Steve and Doug visited the largest whey processor in the world, a manufacturer of high efficiency pumps with integrated VFDs, and attended a trade show where they connected with several equipment manufacturers.
One of the most enlightening and educational experiences of the trip was a visit to Sophus Fuglsang, a malt producer, to see an industrial heat pump in action. Steve and Doug met with a representative of GEA (the heat pump manufacturer) and the general manager of the facility who was able to show them around, sharing his vast knowledge of industrial heat pumps. This site uses a lot of heat to dry malt, and they have four possible energy sources to choose from, depending on energy costs that day!
The information gathered in Denmark can be applied in North America to help resolve barriers to the implementation of industrial heat pumps, in particular: a lack of education and awareness; and cost of implementation.
Currently, Cascade is working to extend the awareness and understanding of industrial heat pumps and their potential benefits not only to fellow Cascadians, but also to our clients and partners. We aim to continue working with the connections made abroad and make industrial heat pumps more widely known as a crucial piece of decarbonization in the food and beverage industry.
This also includes a push to reduce the financial burden of implementing an industrial heat pump. We are working to unite our industrial customer base with existing applicable utility and government incentives, as well as working with utilities, governmental entities and non-profits to build more available incentives. Our goal is to share these incentives as they become available so that our current and future clients are able to take advantage of them.
Find more information on these barriers here: Industrial Heat Pumps: Barriers to Implementation | Cascade Energy
We are excited to continue to include IHP’s in our overall approach to decarbonization and be able to share success stories from abroad to inspire and instruct domestic applications.
To learn more about our approach to decarbonization and what we can do for you, reach out to one of our energy experts today!
