Hilcona reduces CO2 with heat recovery
25 April 2024
Schaan/Orbe - The Hilcona Group is investing in infrastructure modernization at its Orbe site. The project aims to use the waste heat from refrigeration equipment to reduce the natural gas consumption and thus CO2 emissions produced by the food manufacturer.
The Hilcona Group based in Schaan plans to invest in modernizing the infrastructure at its site in Orbe in the canton of Vaud. According to a press release, pipelines, refrigeration equipment, and air compressors will be updated. The system will be reconstructed in such a way that waste heat from refrigeration equipment will be used to heat the company’s water after the construction work has finished. The warm water will be used for daily cleaning activities at Hilcona. According to information from the company, the new water heating system can save two thirds of the natural gas quantity currently required. This will in turn also reduce carbon emissions.
Lionel Monteiro from Hilcona’s engineering department in Orbe commented in the press release: “Overhauling this refrigeration equipment is another important step on our path to sustainability.” Hilcona Group’s Sustainability Officer Andrea Gerber added: “The carbon footprint of the entire company can be reduced further by using waste heat.”