RENEWABLE ENERGY

EURO BEERS WILL NOW BE BREWED USING 100% RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGY

Across Western Europe AB InBev beers are being brewed with 100% renewable electricity, following the opening of a 148 MWp solar park near Granada, Spain with partners BayWa r.e. and VERBUND. The solar park was officially opened in September at an inauguration ceremony attended by local and international stakeholders and guests. The project is one of the largest cross-border solar energy deals in Europe to date and covers 14 of AB InBev’s breweries in Western Europe and more than 50 brands across 12 countries, including Budweiser. The 161-hectare Solar Park Pinos Puente will generate approximately 260 gigawatt hours (GWh) of emission-free electricity per year with a planned total capacity of 147.6 megawatts-peak (MWp). Through the 10-year VPPA deal made between AB InBev and BayWa r.e., the solar park forms part of one of the largest Pan-European corporate solar power deals in history. This will see the brewer of brands such as Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois, supplied with 250 gigawatt hours (GWh) of renewable electricity per year, which will come from the VERBUND solar park and a second expected to be connected to the grid by the end of this month. This is enough electricity to brew over 10 billion beers per year or enable an electric car to drive around the whole of Europe 1.2 million times. The deal, which enables AB InBev beers across Western Europe to be brewed with 100% renewable electricity, covers 14 of its breweries in Western Europe and more than 50 brands across 12 countries, including Budweiser. It will play an instrumental role in supporting the brewer’s 2025 Climate Action goal and its ambition to achieve net zero across its full value chain by 2040. Erik Novaes, Vice-President Procurement & Sustainability Europe, AB InBev said: “With a global energy crisis and the growing impact of climate change keenly felt across much of Europe this Summer, we are focused to be building climate resilience and driving forward our push towards decarbonisation.” Cybelle Buyck, Vice-President Legal & Corporate Affairs Europe, AB InBev, adds: “Our global purpose, a future with more cheers, represents shared prosperity, for our communities, for the planet and for our company. Sustainability is a foundational part of our company and we are immensely proud to see the park open and to embark on this next chapter with our partners.” In 2016, AB-InBev was granted approximately € 800 000 for the LIFE BEVERAGE project forming part of its ambitious dream to create a cleaner world. These LIFE programs contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy and embed sustainability and social responsibility throughout the company’s entire value chain, explains AB InBev.

Energy consumption

The boiling step is the most energy-consuming step in the brewing process, which consumes up to 20 % of the total heat required and generating high levels of greenhouse gases. Previous research at AB-InBev led to the publishing of the patented technology of “Method for treating a wort in a boiling kettle”. Fuel and water consumption can be drastically reduced in this process step by a disruptive innovation; using atmospheric air as the ultimate green resource. Bubbling nitrogen gas into the liquid will simulate the effect of boiling, without the heat requirements.

Project objectives

As one of the world’s leading brewers, AB-InBev feels it has an important role to fulfil in addressing serious environmental changes such as water scarcity, resource depletion and climate change.

Greenhouse gas reduction

With the LIFE BEVERAGE project the company wants to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases caused by beverage production through a new process technology which will be piloted at breweries in Belgium and UK. A company spokesperson commented: “We are passionate about our brewing traditions, but understand that traditional brewing processes often stand at the gateway to transformational change. The fundamental principles of the most energy consuming step in the brewing process are being questioned and carefully reverse-engineered. “In this way AB-InBev aims to lead the way in the transition towards a new standard for a more eco-friendly and sustainable brewing process. He concludes: “LIFE BEVERAGE technologies for two different production methods are being piloted in Jupille and Magor breweries to enable roll-out to all AB-InBev breweries worldwide.”

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