ABP has partnered with ESB to reduce carbon emissions at its site in Clones, Co. Monaghan by 80%.
ABP – which is one of Europe’s leading food processors – installed an innovative, state-of-the-art water heating system to reduce the emissions.
The 80% reduction equates to approximately 1,692 tonnes of CO2, which is the same as the emissions from 627,032 litres of diesel, or 268 homes’ oil usage for one year.
The heating system recycles the lost heat generated by refrigeration units, using it to warm the water used for cleaning, processing and hygiene on site.
As a result, only a small amount of water needs to be heated using a smaller, new and efficient gas boiler.
Its principle is similar to the air to water heat pump system used in domestic homes; however, this system boosts waste heat instead of air.
Sustainability Strategy
The project forms part of ABP’s overall sustainability strategy and is part of an extensive decarbonisation plan that aims to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% from 2021 to 2030 across all ABP sites in Ireland, the UK and Europe.
This is a significant step in successfully reaching targets that the Science Based Targets Initiative has officially validated.
ABP is continually adopting measures to reduce its carbon footprint and improve is sustainability approach.
The company’s sustainability strategy – “Doing More with Less” – is closely aligned with the UN Sustainable Goals.
This strategy runs through every aspect of ABP’s supply chain, from farms to processing sites and the end consumer, with the decoupling of resource usage and productivity a key feature.
ABP has a long track record in developing sustainability initiatives and environmentally friendly policies.
The company is a founding member of the Plastics Action Alliance (PAA), improving sustainability in plastic packaging supply chains.
‘Innovative Project’
Speaking about the project, the managing director of ABP Ireland and Polan Kevin Cahill said, “This is a very exciting, innovative project for ABP and an important step in our drive for greater sustainability.
“This is a pilot project at the Clones site, and we are in the process of replicating it at another of our facilities.
“This will result in an enormous reduction in the carbon footprint and go a long way to achieving our carbon reduction targets as set out by the Science Based Targets initiative.”
Ciaran Gallagher, head of smart energy services at ESB, added, “This project is a significant milestone in our mission to support businesses in achieving their sustainability goals.
“By partnering with ABP, we will demonstrate the transformative impact of advanced heat pump technology on reducing carbon footprints and enhancing energy efficiency.
“Our collaboration underscores the critical role of innovative solutions in driving progress towards net zero targets.
“As leaders in smarter energy solutions, we look forward to continuing our work with ABO and other forward-thinking companies to replicate this success across more facilities, paving the way for a more sustainable industrial sector.”
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