How to Approach Decarbonisation in Industrial Bakeries
Industrial Bakeries have enough waste heat to materially decarbonise heating systems and save money at the same time, but doing it cost-effectively requires proper measurement and whole-system analysis.
Where Heat Is both Used and Wasted in Industrial Bakeries
Industrial bakeries have several heat demands including ovens, proofers, crate washing, hot water and humidification. They also have several sources of waste heat, for example ovens, air compressors and chillers, and even the warm water from crate washing. Improving heating efficiency reduces the long-term cost of decarbonisation.
What Oven Waste Heat Can Really Do
There is enough heat available in the oven exhaust to use for several purposes over and above preheating combustion air, if the heat recovery is enhanced using heat pumps. A heat pump can make it possible to use the latent heat from the high level of moisture in the oven exhaust. The condensed water can also be recovered for use in washing. The oven waste heat is typically enough to offset the entire steam boiler output and then some.
Why Whole-System Analysis Matters
It is not quite as simple as that though. The steam demands for a bakery don’t necessarily align with all the waste heat availability and temperatures don’t always match. Understanding the pattern of heat use and the availability of waste heat helps in determining the best approach to reducing heating cost and carbon emissions. Measuring key factors enables the business to decarbonise in a structured way.
A Practical Way to Plan Bakery Decarbonisation
Considering just one piece of the decarbonisation puzzle in isolation can make it harder and more expensive to achieve the best result in the long term.
So, we encourage a whole system analysis first, with decisions around technology second.
A good approach to finding the best and most realistic solution is:
1. Identify all useful waste heat sources and heat sinks (heating demands).
2. Measure the heat demand and waste heat availability over at least one typical operating cycle
3. Use data analysis to determine the optimum combination of heat recovery and renewable heat options that can be implemented over time to achieve your decarbonisation goals in a cost-effective way.
4. Develop a business case and implementation plan.
How Northmore Gordon can help:
Northmore Gordon can do the hard work for you; it is what we do. We analyse energy use, assist with obtaining government support, optimise the business case using potential revenue from environmental certificate schemes, and help to deliver the project.
