Climate action in starch production
Starch production is an energy-intensive operation, and consequently energy and climate action are extremely important in our sustainability process. We calculate our carbon footprint annually, and have achieved significant reductions of our direct emissions through energy efficiency measures and a transition to renewable fuels.
Energy efficiency measures
Optimizing energy use is the foundation of useful climate action, and the focus on energy saving is intensifying in line with the major challenges facing the Swedish energy system. Our target is to make energy savings of 1 GWh/year calculated as a rolling five-year average.
In 2020, we were awarded aid for heat recovery and evaporation technology by the Swedish Energy Agency, through the Energisteget program. These energy efficiency measures, together with optimization of the protein process, mean that during FY22 we have made savings of 4 GWh, and that we have thereby exceeded our target by a good margin. At the same time we have achieved increased production.
We have chosen to set a target of absolute savings rather than energy consumption per produced tonne so we can more clearly see the total effect of our measures. Our energy consumption varies a great deal depending on the product mix we are producing, which means an efficiency target is not always appropriate.
