Manufacturing businesses in Australia’s food and beverage sector are increasingly able to reduce emissions using commercially available technologies, according to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).
In an update, ARENA said processes including pasteurisation, cleaning, sterilisation, drying, refrigeration and cooking generally operate below 150–200°C, allowing facilities to consider technologies such as industrial heat pumps, electric boilers, thermal storage and renewable-powered refrigeration.
ARENA said these technologies can be integrated into existing operations, with some projects moving from feasibility to commissioning alongside maintenance or upgrade cycles.
One example is Hardwick Meatworks in Kyneton, Victoria, which installed a heat pump and upgraded its electrical supply system with ARENA support, reducing its reliance on natural gas.
According to the project’s final report, the facility recorded annual savings of 29,550 GJ in energy, 1,040 tonnes of CO?-e emissions and nearly $480,000 in energy expenditure.
Other projects are examining different approaches to reducing emissions in manufacturing operations. Treasury Wine Estates’ Barossa Decarbonisation Project is investigating electrified process heat and energy efficiency measures, while McCain Foods is exploring mechanical vapour recompression to recover and reuse waste heat.
ARENA also pointed to electrical thermal energy storage as an emerging option for industrial users. The technology converts electricity into heat and stores it for later use, potentially allowing businesses to make greater use of lower-cost renewable electricity.
The agency said emissions reduction measures can also deliver operational benefits, including lower energy costs, reduced exposure to gas price volatility and improved temperature control and reliability.
A feasibility study at George Weston Foods’ Castlemaine facility, for example, identified opportunities to upgrade refrigeration and thermal systems. Climatech Zero’s Colin Forster said implementing cleaner systems could “save over $600k per annum in operating cost and reduce site natural gas use by 24%.”
ARENA said demonstration projects and the sharing of operational data could help reduce uncertainty for other manufacturers considering similar technologies. It is also supporting tools and studies aimed at helping businesses assess electrification and renewable heat options.
The agency said its Industrial Transformation Stream funding program is continuing to support projects aimed at demonstrating industrial emissions reduction technologies, with Round 3 currently open for applications.
