mahou san miguel, a 100% Spanish company and a leader in the beer sector in our country, and Veralia, European leader in the manufacture of glass containers for the food and beverage sector, have launched the joint project to improve the Energy Efficiency from its production centers in Burgos.
The initiative consists of taking advantage of the residual energy generated in the smelter of the glass for the process of preparing the beera, thus eliminating part of the natural gas used. With an associated investment of 2 million euros, the system has been in full operation since last October, allowing both companies to significantly improve their environmental indicators.
Specifically, the brewery has reduced the consumption of natural gas in its production process by 60%, which translates into a reduction in CO emissions.2 in the same proportion. Verallia, meanwhile, has lowered the residual energy temperature of its glass melting process by 40%, making it more efficient. The recent renovation of their furnaces currently allows them to generate energy with a power of 3.800 kW.
“Sustainability has always been part of our DNA and it leads us to constantly promote increasingly efficient and environmentally friendly industrial models. This project, the result of the commitment and joint work of two companies closely linked to the city of Burgos, is already a case of success that encourages us to continue working to be an engine of transformation that contributes to the sustainable development of the environments in which we operate " Alfredo Garcia-Cuevas Baquedano, director of the Mahou San Miguel Production Center in the province.
For its part, Eulogio Lopez, director of the Verallia plant in Burgos, points out that “the symbiosis of both companies has been the success of this project. Despite the pandemic, the work has been carried out successfully. We have managed to generate 6.500 kg of steam / hour for the production of beer, at the same time that the temperature of the fumes emitted into the atmosphere has been reduced by 174 degrees. We will continue promoting this type of project in line with our new purpose: Re-imagining glass for a sustainable future ”.
To make this project possible, a thermal energy recovery system was installed in the Verallia furnaces, which generates dry saturated steam that is sent to the Mahou San Miguel steam production plant. A viable engineering work thanks to the proximity of the facilities that both companies have in Burgos and which has been executed by the energy company Engie. The initiative was recognized in the seventh edition of the Enertic Awards in the Industry 4.0 section, as an outstanding case of innovation and good practices.
