Solar thermal sector concept for the food industry – Solar Foods

Starting point: The food industry uses large amounts of thermal energy in the temperature range 30° C to 150° C. It is possible to provide these temperatures with carbon-neutral solar thermal systems.

The aim of this study was to create implementation-concepts for the integration of solar heat in the food industry sub-sectors in close cooperation with affected sites, and industry representatives. These concepts include energy efficiency measures as well as the possible integration of other renewable energy technologies and demonstrate a pathway for a turn to solar in the industry by the year 2020/2030.

To achieve this objective the following steps are taken:

• Survey of the status quo of energy and resource use in the Austrian food industry based on selected production sites: Comprehensive technical and economic analyses and database on the existing processes in selected companies. Within the project companies from the sectors milk processing, meat processing, fruit and vegetable processing, breweries and bakeries.
• Development of an accounting tool that displays the essential processes in the food industry at the level of unit operations and the characteristic process variables. By this an easy evaluation of the production processes is possible.
• Survey of the framework for selected companies and sub-sectors: The underlying economic, legal and site-specific conditions are identified and documented.
• Integration of solar heat in the processes, taking into account other renewable technologies: examples for implementation approaches with a focus on energy efficiency and process integration of solar thermal plants which are developed on the basis of the analyzed and compared plants.
• Food Industry 2020 – medium to long-term implementation strategies: Design of a long-term implementation strategy for the food industry sector in the form of a solar roadmap and identification of the necessary framework and policies.
• The results are placed in a consistent industry approach.

The concept which is designed in close cooperation with industry partners is the core result and available via the project sites. It includes: (a) a planning and design tool of all relevant unit operations and solar heat which takes into account the potential for efficiency improvements and the use of other renewable sources, (2) guidelines for the integration solar heat in different plant types and for various sub-sectors, and (3) a description of a solar roadmap for the food industry in Austria by the year 2020/2030 and the required policies and frameworks.