Heineken announced this month that it plans to power one of its European breweries with renewable energy in the coming years.
The Dutch brewing giant installed a novel “heat battery” at its Vialonga Brewery and Malting Plant in Portugal in partnership with renewable energy firm EDP and Rondo Energy, the heat battery’s developer.
Under a “heat-as-a-service” agreement, EDP will design, construct and operate the system utilizing Rondo’s battery technology. The system will turn renewable energy into “low-carbon” steam, which would then power the brewery’s operations.
The brewery is expected to transition to the heat battery system in April of 2027. Heineken officials said it would be one of the biggest in the global beverage industry and the first of its kind in the European beverage sector.
“This project not only helps us reduce our reliance on conventional energy, it shows how practical innovation and strong partnerships can deliver meaningful improvements across our supply chain,” Heineken Chief Supply Chain Officer Magne Setnes said in a statement.
