The energy requirements of our production plants are high. At the same time, they generate surplus energy - in the form of waste heat, for example. This waste heat can be fed back into production, which contributes to energy efficiency.
From the banana ripening plant to the Swissmill grain mill and the Nutrex vinegar producer: here are some specific examples of how we utilise synergies in production:
Nutrex produces vinegar. The waste heat generated in the process is optimally utilised with the help of two heat pumps. On the one hand, they heat the vinegar for preservation, and on the other, they are used to heat the workrooms. This means we no longer need any additional heating.
In our banana ripening facility in Kaiseraugst, we ripen 23,000 tonnes of bananas every year, which requires a lot of heat. At the same time, the bananas have to be cooled to keep them fresh. Both require a lot of energy. By modernising the refrigeration system and replacing the previous oil heating with waste heat from refrigeration, the banana ripening plant now saves 40,000 litres of heating oil per year, which corresponds to a CO2e reduction of 115 tonnes.
The distribution centre in Schafisheim is home to the largest bakery in Switzerland. It is also one of the most environmentally friendly, as wood chips are used to provide heat, among other things.
Around 40 litres of crystal-clear water flow out of the Lötschberg Base Tunnel every second – directly onto the north side near Frutigen. With a constant temperature of 17 degrees Celsius, this water is a valuable resource. However, allowing it to flow directly into natural waterways would have serious consequences: the increased temperature could upset the ecological balance and pose a particular threat to the sensitive native lake trout population.
Instead of cooling the water in a costly and energy-intensive process, Bergquellfisch Frutigen uses the heat to breed fish. In this way, we combine innovative thinking with responsible action and make an active contribution to protecting nature.