Waste heat recovery in oven exhaust system (baking ovens)
The project consists in installing a heat exchanger to capture the waste heat from the oven to heat the bakery store and to produce domestic hot water.
Installing this technology, which has been available on the market for more than 5 years, will allow the company to save up to 20% on its electricity consumption as well as reduce its carbon footprint by up to 20%. This measure is rather complex to implement, would entail a medium-to-long term return on investment, and requires a production shutdown during installation.
The project involves replacing hot steam generation with humidification based on ultrasonic low-temperature water mist.
Installing this technological innovation can allow the company to save up to 95% on electricity consumption during the humidification stage, as well as 5% during the cold generation stage. This measure is not easy to implement and would entail a medium-to-long term return on investment. The measure does not require a production shutdown while the technology is being installed.
Reflective coatings can be applied on the plates as well as on the interior walls and burners of existing ovens or on new installations. The coatings are made of high-emissivity ceramic materials which increase the energy efficiency of the oven by absorbing heat and returning it to the product in the form of infrared radiation, thus reducing the heat input via the burner.
By installing this new technology, the company will save up to 20% on gas consumption and also reduce its carbon footprint by around 20%. This measure is easy to implement, has a quick return on investment, and does not require a production shutdown during installation.
Replacement of a traditional oven with a multi-level oven (baking ovens)
The project consists in replacing a conventional oven that does not allow to bake different products simultaneously with a multi-level oven that optimises the capacity of the oven, thus reducing its operating time for the same production.
Installing this technology, which has been available on the market for more than 5 years, will allow the company to save up to 10% on its electricity consumption as well as somewhat reduce its carbon footprint. While the cost of energy alone cannot justify this measure, it allows greater flexibility and potentially an optimisation of baking time and therefore an increase in yield. This measure is not easy to implement and requires a production shutdown during installation.
Grosbusch benefits from its location in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, a key European hub, which is ideal for the importation of fresh produce from various regions across Europe and beyond. Thanks to its strategic location, the company efficiently distributes its products throughout the Greater Region.Marcel Grosbusch & Fils has been in the business of importing and trading fruit and vegetables since 1917 and has since grown into a leading supplier in the Luxembourg and the entire Greater Region.
Idea
Grosbusch invests in the future by installing a photovoltaic system
As part of its long-term strategy, Grosbusch invested in the sustainability of its activities by installing a 1,500 kWp photovoltaic system. This initiative is part of the company’s response to the ever-increasing electricity costs. The initiative also ties in perfectly with the company’s commitment to developing sustainable practices.
Design
Partnership with SOCOM
The project began with the identification of a suitable 1500 kWp photovoltaic system and subsequently started a collaboration with SOCOM. This was followed by a process of soliciting quotes to assess the available market options. The company also registered its participation in a call for tenders for the development and operation of new photovoltaic power plants. At the same time, the necessary steps were taken to obtain the required permits, and possibly to adapt the operating permit (Commodo).
Implementation
Seamless implementation: How Grosbusch maintained its activities throughout the construction work
The installation phase was expected to take two months. Works were conducted across an area exceeding 8,000 m2, facilitated by the flat design solution for module placement without the need for a supporting structure. Fortunately, no unexpected events impeded the process allowing for the seamless integration of the photovoltaic system with the existing roof structure. Importantly, the daily operations of the company remained unaffected throughout the project, owing to its nature.
Results
Grosbusch harnesses electricity from its own photovoltaic system
As a result of the new installation, Grosbusch management can proudly report that 50% of the company’s electricity requirements are now covered by its new photovoltaic system. It’s also worth pointing out that the company’s main consumption period coincides with daytime electricity generation, making the system highly efficient.
Founded in 2003, the University of Luxembourg is a public higher education and research institution. It boasts 3 faculties, 4 interdisciplinary centres and 3 campuses (Belval, Kirchberg, Limpertsberg). With almost 7,000 students, including 1,000 PhD students, 2,400 members of staff, including 300 professors, it is ranked among the top 250 universities in the world by THE (Times Higher Education).
Idea
Reducing energy consumption
Like many other public institutions, the University of Luxembourg took action during the Zesumme Spueren campaign to set an example by reducing its gas consumption during the winter of 2022-2023. For this reason, it launched an awareness-raising campaign among its employees to encourage them to adopt energy-saving behaviour. In addition to the more technical aspects of managing its buildings, the University wished to mobilise its community in support of possible energy savings to encourage behavioural changes and achieve long-term sustainable results.
Design
Developing a holistic approach
To meet this goal and the relevant economic requirements, the University of Luxembourg designed a holistic approach that incorporates both technical interventions and behavioural changes. In terms of technical solutions, they identified specific measures necessary to optimiser the heating, power supply and cooling management of the buildings.
Implementation
Technical measures and behavioural interventions
The campaign was officially launched in 2022. The University introduced a dedicated intranet page, effectively centralising the technical and behavioural actions taken as part of the initiative. In terms of technical measures, the heating of its buildings was optimised. The temperature of the premises has been limited to 20°C during the day and 16°C at night and on weekends, contributing to a more efficient energy use. Furthermore, weekend and holiday opening hours were reorganised to further reduce energy consumption.
As for its electricity consumption, a number of strategic adjustments were put in place. The brightness of common areas was reviewed, so that every other light source can be turned off provided that the minimum legal requirement (in terms of brightness) is met. A similar review and adjustment was carried out to the ventilation systems in the auditoriums and laboratories, by installing motion detectors in auditoriums to shut off ventilation when the rooms are unoccupied.
In terms of human behaviour, the campaign focused on raising awareness on multiple fronts:
Members of the university community were made aware of the importance and their impact on reducing heating consumption, while at the same time ensuring that their offices stay properly ventilated.
To promote a reduced electricity consumption, the university raised awareness on the appropriate use of lighting in common areas, corridors and offices, as well as how to efficiently use personal electronic equipment, such as computers and monitors at night, at weekends and when working from home.
Result
Lower energy consumption
The University of Luxembourg closely monitored its energy consumption from late 2022 to the end of May 2023, introducing energy-saving measures starting in October 2022. The results show a considerable 19.2% reduction in heat consumption in its buildings at Belval, Kirchberg and Limpertsberg as compared with the same period the previous year, and even a reduction of almost 25% when compared with the average from 2019 to 2021. These measures have resulted in estimated savings of around €600,000 and a reduction of 311 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, accounting for 6% of emissions linked to energy consumption. The impact on electricity consumption by staff and students is less pronounced, with around a 3% reduction from June 2022 to May 2023 compared with the previous 12 months and more than 5% compared with 2019-2021.
How to reduce electricity costs through intelligent use of IT equipment
The growing use of IT equipment inevitably leads to an increase in energy consumption, whether due to the execution of software applications, communications via LAN/Wi-Fi networks, etc.
The link between IT equipment and energy consumption is not directly visible, as electricity consumption is not dissociated from the other electrical installations available within the company.
Carrying out a sustainable IT diagnostic enables company managers and employees to optimise their digital environmental footprint and consumption.
Company halls and workshops, often characterised by large open spaces and high ceilings, present a particular challenge when it comes to installing an energy-efficient, targeted heating system. The ideal heating system for halls must therefore be able to heat the different work areas individually and produce heat at the right height.
Halls and workshops have specific heating requirements due to their size and use. It is therefore essential to carry out a thorough requirements analysis before installing a new heating system.
Optimising the operating costs associated with the energy efficiency of your company’s building envelope
Much of the heating energy is lost through leaks in the poorly insulated or non-insulated building envelope. Improving the building envelope will therefore lead to considerable savings in heating and/or cooling requirements.
Controlling the operation and running costs of your company’s cold production system
Cold production is used to cool a room or an element, preserve food products, control the temperature of a process, or activate air conditioning.
Optimising the performance of components and their use leads to significant reductions in electricity consumption. In addition to the cold production unit, this also includes the distribution system and the cooling system.
