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In a step towards its carbon reduction goals, Arla Foods Ingredients has announced plans to construct an electric heat pump at its primary processing plant in Denmark. Arla says that the €32 million project is its biggest single investment in net-zero initiatives to date and is “one of the biggest steps the company has taken towards net zero”. Expected to be complete in 2025, the facility at Arla’s Danmark Protein site is expected to convert 2.8MW of electricity into 8MW of heat. The resulting heat will be fed into the plant’s 90°C heat distribution network, which supplies hot water for processes such as spray-drying to create powdered whey ingredients. This shift to heat production by electricity, rather than gas, will cut the site’s greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 14,500 tonnes CO2 equivalent a year – a 22% reduction compared to 2023. Paul van Rooij, VP, supply chain at Arla Foods Ingredients, said: “There’s growing demand for our products around the world but it’s essential that we grow sustainably. Efficient electrification and a shift to renewables are central to Arla’s commitment to reducing reliance on fossil fuels.” He continued: “This innovative heat pump technology will allow us to split our energy system, so that we can supply more sustainably generated heat to lower temperature users while channelling efforts into developing better solutions for our few high-temperature needs. It’s another important milestone on our carbon reduction journey.” The heat pump facility at Danmark Protein is set to act as a blueprint for similar projects at other Arla Foods Ingredients sites.