Fonterra and Man Energy Solutions partner to reduce CO₂ emissions

Fonterra has entered into a strategic partnership with Man Energy Solutions to reduce CO₂ emissions in dairy production through the use of heat pump technology for steam generation.

Man Energy Solutions is a German multinational company that provides engines and turbomachinery solutions.

The partnership will see the design and implementation of industrial-scale heat pump technology, which will be trialled to replace non-renewable energy in steam generation. As a result of the project, the co-op could reduce its CO₂ emissions by 60,000 metric tons per year, which is “the equivalent of taking 25,000 cars off New Zealand’s roads,” according to Fonterra.

With the Man Heat Pump solution, Fonterra will be able to produce steam, used to dry dairy ingredients, using renewable electricity sources such as hydro, solar, geothermal and wind. 

The pump is expected to be able to produce more than 30 metric tons of process steam per hour, which is equivalent to a 25-megawatt thermal output.

Fonterra’s COO, Fraser Whineray, said: “Improving energy efficiency and trying a range of fuels in our manufacturing operations remains a vital part of our decarbonisation strategy. We’re working to meet the expectations of our customers, consumers and stakeholders here in New Zealand and around the world, who are increasingly wanting us to accelerate progress to reduce our emissions.”

He continued: “A key contributor to this reduction is the co-operative’s transition away from coal by 2037. By the end of the year, it is expected that only six out of 29 sites will be using coal.

“We see huge value in collaborating with innovative partners to achieve this ambitious goal. Man Energy Solutions will provide a resilient and efficient heat pump solution for our sites producing nutrient-rich dairy products.”

Uwe Lauber, CEO of Man Energy Solutions, added: “We have put technology solutions to lower greenhouse gas emissions from industry at the heart of our strategy. Man’s heat pump technology brings the economic and climate-friendly benefits of heat pumps to a crucial sector, such as the industrial food and beverage industry.”

“With Fonterra being the third biggest milk ingredient producer in the world, we are very much looking forward to supporting their decarbonisation journey with our expertise and cutting-edge technology solutions. Innovations that arise from such strong partnerships are key in the decarbonisation of industrial processes.”