Harnessing Energy Efficiency in the Food and Beverage Industry

The European R&I Days highlighted the need for a comprehensive government approach involving research and innovation to achieve the European Green Deal’s decarbonization targets. Showcasing success stories, it emphasized collaboration for transforming energy-intensive industries and integrating R&I for a sustainable future.

The article examines the efficacy of decentralizing environmental taxes to address region-specific environmental issues, contrasting it with centralization that may cause fiscal competition and efficiency losses. It suggests harmonizing economic incentives with environmental protection to optimize the impact of environmental taxes on sustainability.

This study addresses the energy-intensive nature of food production, highlighting the substantial emissions from specific products and processes. It underscores the lack of consistent energy data and advocates for optimizing production, adopting new technologies, and reevaluating transportation to enhance energy efficiency in the food sector.

The UK's food and drink sector aims to cut emissions from electricity and heat by up to 80% from 2012 levels, but heat decarbonization lacks clear strategies. Transition hinges on overcoming financial, technical, and policy barriers, requiring government-industry collaboration and supportive measures.

European food and drink manufacturers must decrease their 94 Mt CO2e emissions to align with the EU's 2050 net-zero goal. Decarbonisation involves sustainable practices, overcoming high costs, leveraging renewable energy, and adopting measures like advanced energy management to reduce emissions efficiently.

Europe advances smart mobility, driven by sustainability and urbanization challenges. EU policies promote electric and autonomous transport, integrating innovations like IoT, MaaS, and AI. Case studies from Barcelona, Stockholm, and Amsterdam highlight smart solutions reshaping urban travel, setting global benchmarks.

Mafalda Silva is a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. She has participated and managed multiple projects concerning energy planning and sustainability. Silva has developed a heat and cold matching platform that determines the costs and benefits related to excess heat utilization routes for the industry and end users.

The EU food sector is a major energy consumer with significant potential for efficiency improvements and renewable energy integration, including bioenergy from food waste and on-farm biogas, though it remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels. Recent innovations and consumer behavior changes, together with EU policies, are fostering a transition to a more sustainable energy footprint.

The OneNet Project Final Event marked the culmination of efforts to reshape Europe's electricity system. Key topics included TSO-DSO coordination, market design, consumer engagement, and leveraging data for grid operations. The initiative aligns with EU interoperability objectives and promotes a sustainable, unified market.