Engie España and Heineken, with the adept involvement of Azteq, have spearheaded the development and inauguration of a 30-MW concentrated solar power (CSP) plant, prominently situating itself at Heineken’s brewery in Seville, Spain. Notably, this plant marks its significance as the largest solar thermal entity for industrial application across Europe, unfolding through a well-channelled €21 million investment. It inhabits 8 hectares, boasting a substantial storage capacity of 68 MWh, and has been strategically co-financed and managed through collaborations with the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Spanish government agency IDAE.
Azteq played a subtle yet pivotal role in carving the technological backbone of the project. Their expertise was fundamental in weaving thermodynamic concepts with CSP technology, demonstrating an industry-first in aligning these methodologies within an industrial context. This innovative approach facilitated a notable enhancement in superheated water production for industrial utilization and judiciously utilized water as a heat transfer medium, averting the use of environmentally precarious synthetic oils.
The implementation of Azteq’s technology is expected to precipitate a profound positive environmental impact. Heineken’s gas consumption is projected to decrease by over 60%, with a considerable contraction in its carbon footprint by almost 7,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent each year. With robust sustainability ambitions, Heineken is aiming for full decarbonization by 2025 and anticipates that by the end of 2023 and 2024, renewable sources will power 50% and 62% of their energy, respectively, a vision partly lit by the advent of this CSP plant.
Encased within a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) contract, the partnership matrix between Engie España and Heineken is elucidated through a 20-year thermal purchase agreement, concluding with the plant ownership migrating to Heineken upon the expiration of the agreement term.
Embarking on this journey, Heineken, Engie España, and Azteq have crafted a blueprint that not only signifies a potent development in industrial sustainability but also illuminates the pathway for its potential adoption across varied sectors. The amalgamation of Heineken’s sustainability drive, Engie España’s strategic partnership, and Azteq’s technological finesse, subtly underscores Spain’s commitment to global emission reduction initiatives. It unfurls a narrative where large-scale production processes and renewable energy coalesce, anchoring themselves firmly within the realms of environmental sustainability and responsibility.