Heineken, energy producer EDP, and industrial heat solutions provider Rondo Energy have unveiled a new “Heat-as-a-Service” agreement to install a renewable energy-powered heat battery at Heineken’s Vialonga Brewery and Malting Plant near Lisbon. Established in 2020, the California-based Rondo Energy addresses emissions from industrial heat processes, which traditionally rely heavily on fossil fuels to transform materials into products or create steam for brewing. Rondo’s Heat Battery converts intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar into continuous high-temperature heat, allowing for the replacement of fossil fuel-fired boilers.
The partnership will see EDP install a 7 MWp solar plant on the brewery’s grounds and supply 25 GWh of renewable energy from the grid under a long-term flexible power purchase agreement (PPA). This energy will power the Rondo battery, storing renewable electricity as high-temperature heat to provide zero-carbon steam, eliminating the need for fossil fuel boilers.
With a capacity of 100 MWh, this heat battery will be among the largest in the global beverage sector and represents Portugal’s first significant Heat-as-a-Service agreement. Eric Trusiewicz, CEO of Rondo Energy, expressed enthusiasm for deploying the first Rondo Heat Battery in the region and aiding Heineken’s sustainability goals.
Under the Heat-as-a-Service model, EDP will design, build, and operate the system while Rondo supplies the battery technology, offering Heineken low-carbon steam without operational responsibilities. EDP CEO Miguel Stilwell d’Andrade highlighted the significance of deploying the world’s largest heat battery in the beverage sector, integrated with solar panels and a green PPA, as a testament to pushing technological boundaries and enhancing sustainability.
Scheduled to commence in April 2027, the system will enable the plant to avoid 6,600 tons of CO2 emissions annually by reducing natural gas consumption. Heineken aims to achieve net zero in its operations by 2030 and in its entire value chain by 2040. Magne Setnes, Heineken’s Chief Supply Chain Officer, emphasised the project’s role in reducing reliance on conventional energy and demonstrating the impact of innovation and partnerships on supply chain improvements.
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