Arla Foods Ingredients has completed an €8.3 million investment in a new hybrid heating system at its Danmark Protein processing facility in Videbæk, Denmark.
Installed at Production Tower 4, the technology transitions the site away from fossil gas reliance by integrating electric and steam heating, delivering an annual reduction of 2,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
The project forms part of the dairy ingredients major's broader strategy to electrify manufacturing processes, enhance energy flexibility, and reduce carbon intensity across its processing footprint.
Electrification and Energy Flexibility
The project converts Production Tower 4 from a dedicated gas heater to a flexible dual-fuel system capable of switching between steam generated by the plant and a new electric heater. The configuration enables the facility to run entirely on renewable electricity for approximately 23 per cent of its operating hours.
By switching between thermal energy sources based on energy market pricing, the plant can increase power consumption during periods of high wind and solar generation when prices fall, while scaling back electricity use during high-demand windows. This dynamic load management provides balancing support to the Danish power grid while lowering operational energy expenditure.
Mogens Bøgh Pedersen, Director of the Danmark Protein plant, stated that the investment improves operational reliability, strengthens security of supply, and reduces the site's overall environmental impact.
Project Investment and Emission Metrics
Key operational parameters and metrics surrounding the Videbæk facility investment include:
Capital Allocation: Approximately €8.3 million invested in the Tower 4 heating conversion.
Immediate Carbon Reduction: Delivers an annual carbon reduction of approximately 2,500 tonnes for Production Tower 4.
Expanded Portfolio Potential: Planned implementation on Tower 5 will elevate total annual CO2 reductions up to 5,200 tonnes.
Renewable Energy Integration: Enables Tower 4 to run 100 per cent on renewable electricity for 23 per cent of operational hours.
Operational Scaling across Processing Facilities
Following the completion of the Tower 4 heating system, Arla Foods Ingredients is advancing planning for a similar electrification project across Production Tower 5 at the Videbæk location.
Combined, the two heating conversions are projected to eliminate up to 5,200 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. According to Danish Energy Agency benchmarks, the combined emission reduction corresponds to the annual heating consumption of more than 1,900 households using natural gas.
Paul van Rooij, Vice President of Supply Chain at Arla Foods Ingredients, noted that alongside delivering substantial carbon savings, the project establishes a strong financial model that the company will seek to replicate across its other international processing sites.
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