Emmi reduces emissions
Swiss dairy group Emmi has undertaken to reduce group-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2027 and focusing on increasing energy efficiency as well as using renewable energy sources, such as solar energy.
Its production site in Suhr, where the Emmi Goodday lactose-free range is manufactured, is now connected to a remote steam ply network, run by district heating Wynenfeld (FEWAG) after more than five years of planning and realisation time.
“We chose Emmi Suhr for FEWAG environmentally friendly district heating, because we can reduce carbon emission by more than 5,000 tons per year and our energy-intensive production processes can operate as environmentally friendly and sustainable,” explains Emmi project manager Hansjörg Bernet.
To connect Emmi Suhr to the FEWAG network, the steam line had to be extended by two kilometers and a hot water line was relocated at the same time.
Rolf Schumacher, managing director of FEWAG, explains the associated challenges: “The extension has worked well. But there were also some surprises in line construction. Therefore, the construction work took three months longer than originally planned.”
The heat from the public system is delivered directly and ready to use and therefore less carbon is emitted as from conventional heating systems.
“With the newly built hot water line, we can provide several additional residential areas with environmentally friendly district heating in the future,” says Marco Genoni, the mayor of Suhr.
Behind the production of district heating is a complex closed process: the combustion of waste in the incineration plant causes heat to arise. From this heat comes fresh vapour. This in turn is passed into a steam turbine. Arriving at Emmi Suhr, the process steam enters the forming station, from where steam finally is used for production.
