Fonterra and MAN Energy Solutions are entering a strategic partnership to reduce CO2 emissions in dairy production using climate friendly heat pump technology for steam generation. The partnership will trial the design and implementation of an industrial-scale heat pump technology to replace non renewable energy in raising steam.
It is likely to reduce 60,000 metric tons of CO2 annually for the co-operative. Powered by electricity, the high temperature MAN Heat Pump solution would allow Fonterra to produce steam to dry dairy ingredients using renewable electricity from sources such as hydro, solar, geothermal and wind. After integration into Fonterra’s production infrastructure, the heat pump could produce more than 30 metric tons of process steam per hour, equivalent to a thermal output of 25 megawatts.
The first step will be to carry out an engineering study to develop the integration of the heat pump solution into the co-operative’s existing milk powder production. The findings will then be used to design a heat pump system at one of Fonterra’s manufacturing sites.