Energy-saving heat pump technology is coming to the largest Arla Foods Ingredients processing plant in Denmark. Representing our single biggest investment in green energy to date, the new heat pump facility is expected to reduce CO2e emissions at Danmark Protein by 14,500 tons a year – contributing significantly to our 2030 goal to cut emissions by 42% compared to 2015.
Once fully operational, the facility will have the capacity to convert 2.8MW of electricity into 8MW of heat and 5.7MW of ice water for cooling purposes. By 2026, it will run entirely on green electricity, supporting the transition away from fossil-based natural gas.
The heat will be fed into Danmark Protein’s 90°C heat distribution system, providing hot water for processes such as clean-in-place, heat treatment and the pre-heating of air in the spray-drying towers. This will replace heat previously supplied by gas-fired boilers.
Operational in 2025
Construction of the heat pump facility began at the Danmark Protein site in January 2024, with operation scheduled to begin in 2025. Provision for a future expansion to 12MW of heat-producing capacity is already built into the design to accommodate production growth in the years ahead.
As the largest investment of its kind by the Arla Group, the project will provide a blueprint for replication at other sites.
