The goal is ambitious: Holderhof aims to use only energy from renewable sources in its production facilities within five years. Another milestone on this path is the installation of the new solar system on the main building of the production site in Henau. The company Egli + Hug Elektro AG from Zuckenriet planned and installed the system. In one month this summer, the company mounted the more than 1000 panels for solar power production, which now cover a large part of the roof. They are aligned from east to west – optimised for the highest possible on-site energy use. This means that the electricity is produced more evenly throughout the day than with a south-facing orientation, with production peaks around midday. The installed output of 480 kWp enables the production of around 500,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. That would be enough to supply a hundred single-family homes with electricity for a year. But it doesn’t come to that in Henau: practically all the solar power produced is consumed on site in the production facilities.
Optimise energy consumption
In future, some of the solar power will also flow into the batteries of the electric lorries that Holderhof will soon be putting into operation. In future, the vehicles will be responsible for CO2 -neutral transport of the juices between the plants in Henau and Sulgen, where the large storage tanks are located. In future, the charging stations will be part of the intelligent energy system in the building. Charging the lorry batteries with solar power is controlled in such a way that the flow of electricity is optimised. For example, to maximise the company’s own power consumption or to break expensive power peaks from the local grid. However, the solar system is just one piece of the puzzle in Holderhof’s future energy strategy. This is because the processes in a food business like Holderhof with a variety of different heating and cooling consumers are diverse and complex. The Energy Agency for the Economy (EnAW)) is therefore currently carrying out a Pinch analysis. This systematically scrutinises the entire company and uncovers the CO2 and energy-saving potential. Based on the results, the engineers are proposing technical solutions to optimise energy flows. For example, waste heat generated during one process can be used to heat other parts of the plant.
Energy-efficient juice plant in Sulgen
The fruit processing centre in Sulgen is already very efficient when it comes to energy. The energy used to process and store the juices is 100 per cent renewable. Electricity that does not come from the centre’s own solar power system is purchased as certified hydroelectricity. However, the company’s own solar power from the roof in Sulgen already covers the entire energy requirement used for the production of direct apple juice throughout the year. Holderhof also consistently focusses on energy efficiency: in winter, the halls in which the storage tanks containing the pure juice are kept are cooled using the free-cooling principle with the help of cold outside air. At the same time, the waste heat from juice production heats the entire building in winter.
The installed capacity of 480 kWp enables the production of around 500,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year.
The environmentally friendly electricity from the photovoltaic system in Henau is used directly on site in production.
The solar power from the roof of the fruit processing centre in Sulgen covers the electricity required for direct juice production throughout the year.
The tanks are cooled in winter with the cold outside air.
The waste heat from juice production heats the building in Sulgen in winter.