From the Company Energy Audit to reducing emissions by 40%

First step

Our client, an enterprise operating in the brewing sector, decided to conduct a mandatory enterprise energy audit (EED) in 2016. As a result of the EED Audit, we identified several areas for modernization, thanks to which the Soufflet Malt Plant will achieve significant financial savings, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and maximize energy efficiency in the plant.

Realization of investment

We proposed comprehensive solutions that contributed to the achievement of the goals of the Soufflet Malt House. As the General Contractor, we proposed a modernization of the heating system by recovering waste heat with a capacity of 2.2 MW and generating heat in cogeneration units. Additionally, we built a new cooling source with a capacity of 4.2 MW, increasing the efficiency of the cooling system. All heat is used in the malt drying process, reducing the plant's emission balance. Cogeneration units provide almost all of the Malt House's electricity needs.

Main challenges

The biggest challenge was to build a project that would maximize the energy effect and reduce emissions, achieving Soufflet's strategic goals. We achieved the intended goal thanks to many years of experience of the engineering team, cooperation with the client at his plant, and the use of modern technologies provided by renowned suppliers.

In turn, for the client, the most difficult thing was to trust a foreign company that, as an external advisor, would be able to engage in the project enough to get to know the technological process from the inside, understand all the nuances and the client's perspective, as well as optimize the operation of the plant, which has been in operation for almost 20 years. one of the most effective in the portfolio of the global capital group.

ESCO model

What prompted Słodownia Soufflet Polska – and encourages other companies – to take actions to improve energy efficiency in the ESCO formula? This is primarily the fact that they do not bear the costs associated with such an investment. The client's investment budget can be used for other business purposes of the company. What's more, savings can be noticed already from the first year after implementing new solutions. Thanks to lower energy costs, the profitability of the client's business immediately improves.

We decided on the ESCO model because we already involve our own budget in process investments. This type of financing did not burden our liabilities, and we could also benefit immediately after implementing new solutions. – explains Konrad Musiał from Soufflet Polska.

Effects of modernization

• Total cost of modernization: PLN 29 million
• Improving product quality thanks to the modernization of the heating system
• ESCO contract period: 10 years
• Thermal energy savings: 30 GWh
• Electricity savings: 12 GWh
• CO2 emission reduction: 9,543 tCO2 – that's 40% of the company's total emissions

This amount of carbon dioxide would be enough to carbonate 6 billion beers!

Słodownia Soufflet Polska sp. z o.o. in Poznań is a world leader in malt production. It belongs to the French agri-food group Soufflet, which is the largest family company in the grain-purchasing industry in Europe. The group employs over 7,000. employees in eighteen countries.