The BETTED project is pleased to highlight a technical contribution prepared by the University of Brescia (UNIBS) entitled “Heat Pumps for Simultaneous Heating and Cooling in the Dairy Sector”, presented under Panel 1: Processes and Technologies to Meet Future Challenges at the Zero Carbon Industry Event in Rome.
The extended abstract explores the potential of heat pump technology as a sustainable and energy-efficient solution for dairy processing facilities, where both heating and refrigeration are essential components of daily operations. Traditionally, these processes are managed separately, often resulting in significant energy consumption and inefficiencies.
The study examines how integrated heat pump systems can simultaneously provide heating and cooling by recovering and reusing waste heat generated during refrigeration processes. This approach creates a synergistic relationship between thermal and cooling demands, enabling dairy facilities to optimize energy use and reduce their environmental footprint.
The contribution investigates the technical feasibility, energy performance, and economic viability of implementing joint heating and refrigeration systems in dairy plants. By efficiently repurposing surplus heat, heat pumps can help reduce overall energy consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and generate operational cost savings for dairy producers.
The article also highlights practical considerations and real-world applications of integrated heat pump systems within the dairy industry, demonstrating how this technology can support the sector’s transition towards more sustainable and resource-efficient production methods.
The findings are closely aligned with the objectives of the BETTED project, which aims to accelerate the energy transition of the dairy value chain through the adoption of innovative, energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy solutions. Heat pumps are identified as one of the key technologies capable of helping dairy SMEs reduce their dependence on fossil fuels while improving both environmental and economic performance.
The contribution provides valuable insights into the opportunities offered by heat pump technology for decarbonising dairy processing and enhancing energy efficiency across the sector.
This is a non-peer reviewed extended abstract. No paper available. For more information, you can download the presentation at the following links:
https://proceedings.eceee.org/papers/proceedings2023/1-047-23_Marchi_Pres.pdf
Authors: Beatrice Marchi and Simone Zanoni.