The food industry is one of the most energy-intensive sectors in Italy, requiring vast amounts of heat for processes such as pasteurization, cooking, and drying. In the context of the ecological transition, ENEA (the National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Economic Development) has introduced new protocols and “turnkey” technologies to allow companies to drastically reduce both their carbon footprint and energy bills.
1. High-Temperature Heat Pumps (HTHP)
One of the primary innovations involves high-temperature heat pumps. Unlike domestic units, these industrial machines can generate heat up to 120-150°C by recovering energy from low-temperature sources, such as machinery cooling water or exhaust air.
- Technical Advantage: They replace methane gas boilers in intermediate thermal processes.
- Impact: A reduction in CO2 emissions by 40-60% compared to traditional systems.
2. Waste Heat Recovery and Phase Change Materials (PCM)
In food plants, approximately 30% of the thermal energy produced is lost as steam or hot water. ENEA has developed advanced heat exchangers and Latent Heat Storage systems using Phase Change Materials (PCM).
- How it works: These materials act as “thermal batteries,” absorbing heat during their melting phase and releasing it during solidification. This allows waste heat from ovens to be stored and reused during plant start-up phases, eliminating energy waste.
3. Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) for Industry
While photovoltaics are a mature technology, ENEA is focusing on Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) to generate direct process heat. Using linear parabolic collectors that track the sun, it is possible to heat a heat-transfer fluid up to 250°C. This heat can be fed directly into the plant’s steam networks, creating a hybrid system that significantly reduces gas consumption during daylight hours.
4. Digital Twins and 4.0 Energy Diagnosis
Innovation is not just about hardware. ENEA supports SMEs through Digital Twins—virtual models of the production plant.
- Impact: By using IoT sensors and AI algorithms, companies can predict consumption peaks, optimize the operation of electric motors, and test efficiency upgrades in a virtual environment before making a capital investment.
Lifestyle Impact: What Can We Do?
While the industrial sector is making great strides, food sustainability also begins with our domestic management of products. Efficient appliances are just the first step; the real savings come from reducing waste and participating in the circular economy.
SmartRicicla’s Tip: ENEA’s Green Tech innovations aim to create closed production cycles. We can do the same at home. Every time you correctly dispose of food packaging using the SmartRicicla app, you ensure that glass, plastic, or aluminum returns to the production cycle. Recycling aluminum, for instance, saves 95% of the energy required to produce it from scratch. Reducing the industry’s demand for raw materials allows ENEA’s clean technologies to cover a larger share of the national energy need.
