LINDAU, Germany, 11 April 2024: ENGIE Refrigeration said it will meet the demanding requirements of a large northern German dairy from autumn 2024, with a total of seven thermeco₂ high-temperature heat pumps with a total output of 6.1 megawatts of heating capacity and four megawatts of cooling capacity. Making the announcement through a Press release, ENGIE said, the heat pumps will be used in a spray dryer for the production of milk powder. Furthermore, the company said, the refrigeration and heating specialist is not only providing new impetus for efficiency and security of supply but also demonstrating future-oriented approaches to sustainable milk production. 

ENGIE said food production is one of the most energy-intensive industries, and the processing of dairy products, particularly, has a high demand for cooling and heating. ENGIE said that one of the largest and most modern dairy companies in Europe is relying on its expertise to make its own production efficient and environmentally friendly for the future. ENGIE said it is providing the cooling and heating supply for a spray dryer for the production of milk powder, which is supplied by a leading provider of industrial drying and evaporation technology. ENGIE also said that seven redundant thermeco₂ high-temperature heat pumps, each with six compressors and a total output of 6.1 megawatts of heating capacity and four megawatts of cooling capacity, guarantee reliable operation of the almost 30-metre-high system throughout the year.

ENGIE said that its team of experts put the highly reliable availability of the cooling and heating solution at its own pace on its test bench beforehand. In addition, the company said, the industrial heat pumps mastered the high-temperature spread required to process dairy products. 

Frank Glaser, Key Account Manager Industrial & Commercial Heating, ENGIE Refrigeration, said: “Our thermeco₂ high-temperature heat pumps cover a temperature range between 0.5 degrees C and 125 degrees C – in a single stage. They also precisely regulate the demanding temperatures, guaranteeing the products’ food safety and shelf life.” The thermeco₂ heat pumps and the spray dryer were delivered at the beginning of 2024; commissioning is planned for autumn 2024.”

ENGIE said that when developing the machine, the specialists attached great importance to future-proofing the cooling and heating solution: The heat pumps supply the spray dryer in a particularly environmentally friendly way, thanks to the natural refrigerant CO_2. The COP (coefficient of performance) value of three, the company said, emphasises the high energy efficiency of the system, and added that this will pay off for the dairy farm in the future. Moreover, ENGIE said it will reduce primary energy consumption by 41 percent compared to fossil fuels, saving 1.13 million euros, annually. 

Glaser said: “The combination of our thermeco₂ high-temperature heat pumps and the spray dryer offers great added value both ecologically and economically. The goal of climate-neutral and future-proof production is tangible for our customer and makes this solution interesting for many other users with sensitive production environments.”