The brand new web site, named ‘Lactosol’, goals to handle sustainability points by decreasing the corporate’s carbon footprint and can provide warmth to its adjoining Verdun web site for the subsequent 25 years.
The Verdun web site produces whey powder, obtained by drying whey (lactoserum) that’s provided to be used in toddler, medical and sports activities vitamin merchandise. Formally opened in November 2021, in collaboration with renewable thermal power pioneer Newheat, the drying tower on the Verdun web site was initially fed by a gasoline boiler.
“After the key renovations of the Verdun web site and the inauguration of the brand new drying tower in 2021, it was important to proceed our transformation by specializing in decreasing our power footprint,” mentioned Jean-Luc Bordeau, managing director of Lactalis Components.
Photo voltaic warmth for the long run
The brand new Lactosol photo voltaic thermal energy plant covers 15,000 sq. meters and boasts a most energy output of roughly 13 MWth. Outfitted with a 3,000 sq. meter storage tank, able to storing a number of days price of warmth manufacturing, the ability works to make sure a steady provide even throughout evening and cloudy days.
This strategy permits the Verdun web site to chop its CO2 emissions by a reported 2,000 tons per yr, equating to 7% of the positioning’s whole emissions.
By incorporating photo voltaic thermal power into its operations, Lactalis goals to cut back gasoline consumption by 6% on the Verdun web site, with additional plans to put in a biomass boiler by 2026, changing practically 50% of gasoline consumption with renewable power.
Lactalis whey powder course of
The corporate produces whey powders by means of cheese manufacturing, by skimming and concentrating the byproduct earlier than being spray dried.
The whey (6% whole solids 94% water) initially goes by means of an evaporation course of to cut back water content material in order that the solids are 60% i.e. a 10x focus.
Lactalis then “seeds” the whey focus with powder produced from a earlier batch, which permits the lactose to vary to a useable consistency—a course of often known as crystallisation, which takes six to 10 hours.
The focus is then fed right into a tower stuffed with scorching air and sprayed into nice droplets, the place the water evaporates, and the whey solids dry into powder type.
Lastly, the powder is handed over a fluid mattress to situation it to the precise moisture required.
Newheat
The undertaking acquired monetary backing from Bordeaux-based Newheat and its companions, together with a €13 million financial institution financing deal in 2020.
“Again in 2020, the Lactalis web site at Verdun was already a frontrunner in selecting photo voltaic warmth to decarbonise the exercise of its future drying tower,” mentioned Hugues Defreville, president and co-founder of Newheat.
“As we speak, the renewable warmth sector, and photo voltaic thermal power specifically, is experiencing a big upsurge. You’ll be able to guess that the instance of Lactalis, which is a worldwide chief in dairy merchandise and recognised for its industrial excellence, will encourage different producers to envisage these virtuous options for their very own decarbonisation initiatives.”
Following the profitable inauguration, Newheat, having not too long ago introduced a fundraising of €30 million, is planning 15 extra initiatives over the subsequent three years, with a complete funding of €150 million.
These initiatives, primarily positioned in France, are anticipated to ship an annual quantity of 200 GWh of renewable warmth.
