Cold beer, hot bricks: Heineken signs deals for 100MWh thermal energy storage system – Energy-Storage.News

Report on the Implementation of a 100MWh Thermal Energy Storage System for Industrial Decarbonization

1.0 Executive Summary

This report details the agreement between thermal energy storage (TES) provider Rondo Energy and the global brewer Heineken for the installation of a 100MWh thermal energy storage system at a brewery in Portugal. The project is a significant step in decarbonizing industrial heat processes and demonstrates a strong commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the areas of clean energy, industrial innovation, responsible production, and climate action.

2.0 Project Overview

• Parties Involved: Rondo Energy (Technology Provider) and Heineken (Industrial Partner).
• Technology: Rondo Heat Battery (RHB), a form of thermal energy storage utilizing “hot bricks” to store energy as high-temperature heat.
• Capacity: 100MWh.
• Location: A Heineken brewery facility in Portugal.
• Objective: To replace fossil fuel-based heat generation with stored renewable electricity, thereby decarbonizing the brewing process.

3.0 Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The project directly contributes to the achievement of several key SDGs through its innovative approach to industrial energy consumption.

3.1 SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

The initiative promotes the transition to sustainable energy systems by:

1. Integrating intermittent renewable energy sources (e.g., solar, wind) into industrial operations by storing excess electricity as heat.
2. Providing a reliable, on-demand source of clean heat, reducing the facility’s dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets.
3. Increasing the share of renewable energy in the final energy consumption mix of the industrial sector.

3.2 SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

This partnership fosters sustainable industrialization and innovation through:

• The deployment of advanced thermal storage technology to upgrade existing industrial infrastructure.
• Building resilient infrastructure that can adapt to a renewable-powered grid.
• Promoting clean and environmentally sound technologies within the manufacturing sector.

3.3 SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Heineken’s adoption of this technology is a clear move towards more sustainable production patterns by:

• Significantly reducing the carbon footprint associated with its manufacturing processes.
• Improving resource efficiency by using electricity that might otherwise be curtailed.
• Demonstrating corporate leadership in sustainable practices, encouraging wider industry adoption.

3.4 SDG 13: Climate Action

The project represents a direct and measurable effort to combat climate change by:

1. Substantially lowering greenhouse gas emissions from one of the most energy-intensive industrial processes.
2. Providing a scalable model for decarbonizing industrial heat, which is a major source of global emissions.
3. Strengthening the resilience of industrial operations to climate-related energy disruptions.

3.5 SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The collaboration between Rondo Energy, a technology startup, and Heineken, a multinational corporation, exemplifies a powerful partnership for sustainable development by:

• Mobilizing private sector technology and investment to achieve sustainability targets.
• Creating a replicable model of cross-sectoral cooperation to accelerate the energy transition.
• Sharing knowledge and innovation to advance global climate and energy goals.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The article focuses on a thermal energy storage system that utilizes renewable electricity to provide industrial heat, directly contributing to the adoption of clean energy solutions.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The core of the article is about an innovative technology (Rondo Heat Battery) being implemented to upgrade industrial infrastructure (a brewery) to make it more sustainable and environmentally sound.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The initiative by Heineken demonstrates a commitment to more sustainable production patterns by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and cutting carbon emissions in its manufacturing process.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The project’s primary goal is to decarbonize industrial heat, which is a direct action to combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The article explicitly mentions Heineken’s decarbonization goals and the specific amount of carbon emissions that will be reduced.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • Target 7.2: “By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.” The Rondo Heat Battery is designed to capture “intermittent renewable electricity,” enabling greater use of sources like solar and wind for industrial processes that require continuous heat, thereby increasing the share of renewable energy in industrial energy consumption.
   • Target 7.3: “By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.” The technology itself is described as having “over 98% energy efficiency” in storing and delivering heat. It replaces less efficient gas-fired boilers, contributing to overall energy efficiency improvements in the industrial sector.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.4: “By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and processes…” The project is a direct example of this target in action. Heineken is retrofitting its brewery in Portugal with a clean technology (thermal energy storage) to replace fossil fuel-based systems, making its industrial process more sustainable.

3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Target 12.2: “By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.” The project will “cut gas use at the brewery by 60%,” which represents a more sustainable and efficient use of natural resources by substituting a fossil fuel with stored renewable energy.

4. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.2: “Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.” While this is a corporate initiative, it aligns with broader climate goals. Heineken’s corporate strategy to “decarbonize its production by 2030 and its full value chain by 2040” is a form of integrating climate change measures into its business planning and operations.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • Implied Indicator for Target 7.2: The project involves a “100MWh thermal energy storage system” designed to run on renewable electricity. This capacity can be used as a measure of the increased potential for renewable energy integration in industrial heat processes.
   • Implied Indicator for Target 7.3: The article states the Rondo Heat Battery has “over 98% energy efficiency,” which is a direct metric of the technology’s performance and its contribution to energy efficiency.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Indicator 9.4.1: CO2 emission per unit of value added. The article provides a direct measure related to this indicator by stating the project will “reduce carbon emissions by 40,000 tonnes per year.” This quantifies the reduction in emissions from the industrial production process at the brewery.

3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Implied Indicator for Target 12.2 (related to Domestic Material Consumption): The statement that the project will “cut gas use at the brewery by 60%” serves as a clear indicator of reduced consumption of a specific natural resource (natural gas).

4. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Indicator 13.2.2: Total greenhouse gas emissions per year. The article explicitly mentions that the project will “reduce carbon emissions by 40,000 tonnes per year,” which is a direct measurement for this indicator, showing a quantifiable contribution to climate action.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: energy-storage.news