Heineken & ENGIE's New Brew Partnership Stirs Sustainability
French energy company ENGIE has agreed a new deal to help Heineken Romania decarbonise its operations,
In Romania, Heineken has breweries in Miercurea-Ciuc, Ungheni and Craiova, all of which are gearing up for a full-on decarbonising makeover courtesy of its new French partners.
ENGIE has proposed a three-part plan to send the sustainability of the breweries skyrocketing:
- Increase the energy efficiency of the buildings, letting less heat escape and ensuring that fewer appliances waste energy.
- Install anaerobic digesters on each of the sites, which are capable of producing biofuels from organic matter.
- Install more heat pumps across the sites, swapping out fossil fuel boilers for newer, cleaner, greener and cheaper alternatives.
Heineken goes into this new partnership with a simple goal: reducing emissions.
Romania may provide Heineken with a good test case, which, if successful, could see the company roll out similar measures across its operations globally.
Collaborating to achieve net zero
Heineken Romania's partnership with ENGIE is a crucial component of their Integrated Net Zero Production plan. The brewery is also leveraging technical expertise from partnerships with industry leaders like Arcadis, NIRAS, and Royal HaskoningDHV to further slash energy demand in logistics and production, facilitating the transition to renewable energy sources.
Nicolas Richard, CEO of ENGIE Romania, was very enthusiastic about the deal. He said: "We're thrilled to be Heineken's chosen partner for delivering comprehensive decarbonisation solutions across three of their industrial sites.
"Our approach is holistic, spanning from strategy to execution, and features innovative technologies for decarbonization and heat utilisation. By combining biomethane production from brewery waste with heat recovery through heat pumps, we're crafting a tailored solution that aligns perfectly with Heineken's global net zero ambitions."
Likewise, Magne Setnes, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Heineken, says: "Our partners bring invaluable expertise, cutting-edge technological solutions, and fresh perspectives to the challenges we face. These skills are crucial in helping Heineken Global achieve its ambitious goal of net zero in Scope 1 and 2 by 2030 – a feat that demands collective effort and expertise."
A global partnership with local impacts
The ENGIE-Heineken partnership extends beyond Romania. In 2022, the companies joined forces to establish a pioneering solar thermal energy plant at Heineken's Seville factory in Spain. By September 2023, the facility had become Europe's largest industrial solar thermal power plant. Impressive, right?
Under a comprehensive 20-year Build, Own, Operate, Transfer (BOOT) contract, ENGIE Spain commits to supplying 100% renewable energy to Heineken Spain. This partnership puts Heineken Spain on a fast track to becoming the country's first net zero brewery.
The agreement is set to yield impressive results, with Heineken Spain poised to reduce its carbon footprint by approximately 7,000 tons of CO₂ annually and slash fossil gas usage by a remarkable 60%.
Loreto Ordóñez, CEO of ENGIE Spain, proudly stated, "This plant showcases ENGIE's unwavering commitment to our industrial customers. We're leveraging our technical capabilities and professional expertise to make sustainable, renewable energy alternatives a reality. We're grateful for Heineken Spain's trust in us as we help them achieve cleaner, more efficient energy in their production processes."
Something is brewing...
Heineken's sustainability vision is encapsulated in its ambitious "Brew a Better World 2030" initiative. This forward-thinking strategy ensures that sustainability remains at the core of the company's business philosophy.
The programme, developed through collaborative efforts, aims to create substantial impacts by addressing critical industry issues. "Brew a Better World" is built on three fundamental principles: fostering a just society, promoting responsible consumption, and striving for environmental neutrality.
Heineken's commitment is already bearing fruit, with the company reporting a very promising 34% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2023 compared to 2018 figures.
Joanna Price, Heineken's Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, says: "Sustainability must be woven into the very fabric of our operations. The steps we're taking today will enable us to anticipate and mitigate risks, adapt to changing market conditions and seize new opportunities. It's not just the right thing for the planet and society – it's crucial for our business and stakeholders."
As ENGIE and Heineken continue to push the boundaries of sustainable brewing, their partnership serves as a shining example of how industry leaders can collaborate to create a greener, more sustainable future for all.
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