In a landmark initiative for the beverage industry, Diageo is set to transform its production processes by introducing cutting-edge Heat Battery technology from Rondo Energy. This innovative step will take place at Diageo’s Kentucky and Illinois facilities and marks a significant pivot away from traditional natural gas reliance.
Massive Federal Investment in Sustainable Manufacturing
The push for these more sustainable energy solutions has garnered substantial support from the federal government. The US Department of Energy has allocated up to $75 million to the Diageo-Rondo Energy partnership, a portion of the larger $6 billion effort aimed at greening America’s industrial sector. This is a direct reflection of the commitment outlined in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act under the Biden administration.
The End of Natural Gas in Beverage Production
The conventional processes of the beverage industry are energy-intensive. From distillation and pasteurization to packaging and HVAC management, these operations have historically depended on natural gas for their thermal energy needs. By taking a big leap forward, Diageo will be employing Rondo Energy’s advanced Heat Batteries as a sustainable substitute.
How Rondo Energy’s Heat Batteries Will Make a Difference
These innovative Heat Batteries by Rondo work similar to electric toasters or ovens but at a much larger scale. They are designed to generate high-temperature heat using clean electricity, making them an effective alternative for the facilities located in Shelbyville, Kentucky (Bulleitt Bourbon’s birthplace), and Plainfield, Illinois. The adoption of this technology is projected to slash almost 17,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions every year for these two sites alone, the equivalent of removing over 4,000 gasoline cars from the roads annually.
Moreover, Diageo’s initiative has the potential to act as a successful model for other manufacturing setups aiming to seamlessly incorporate thermal storage while utilizing erratic renewable energy sources.
How the Rondo Heat Battery Works
The Rondo Heat Battery has a robust and straightforward mechanism. It captures erratic electricity, such as that from wind or solar sources, and stores the energy in the form of high-temperature heat within its brick components. This stored energy can be harnessed as needed, providing heat or electricity at the required times.
Constructed from simple materials like brick and iron, the Heat Battery can charge rapidly in about four hours and retain heat energy at temperatures reaching up to 1500C for extended periods. This translates to a continuous and consistent energy output while operating on variable input power conditions.
Notably supported by influential entities like Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Energy Impact Partners, Rondo asserts that their Heat Batteries can achieve a remarkable 95% annual capacity factor, even when they only receive power for a fraction of the day, exemplifying their efficiency and resilience.
Diageo’s strategic shift and the DOE’s financial backing underscore a broader movement towards decarbonization and sustainability, not just in the beverage industry, but across the industrial spectrum, setting a precedent for others to follow.
