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Energy efficiency for Valio's dairy

Energy efficiency for Valio's dairy

Valio's dairy at Riihimäki is Finland's largest milk dairy. Since the end of January 2010 the dairy has reclaimed the condensation heat from the cooling plant by Scancool's industrial heat pump. After the first months of operation the experiences are very positive.
– The investment improves the energy efficiency of the Riihimäki dairy. Before this the energy which is now produced by a heat pump was produced mainly by burning domestic wood chips and peat. Now we can recycle the former waste heat back into the process, says Esa Mäkipelto, the technical manager of Valio.
Mäkipelto says that Riihimäki is a pilot object for Valio in the use of an industrial heat pump. Good experiences elsewhere got them interested and made them test an industrial heat pump – and things looks good.
– For the pilot project we chose a clear-cut, medium-sized object where heating energy could be saved. Everything looks very promising. The heat pump functions with the given calculated values, it is dependable and easy to use. We are positively surprised.

A profitable investment
Valio is currently working with a mapping project in order to find out other objects in which an industrial heat pump could be utilized.
– There are several promising objects in our production plants. As in Riihimäki, a heat-pump investment requires applications of its own, but I believe that the different variations will be highly usable.
– Of course, the repayment period of an investment will depend on the object and the energy source to be replaced with a heat pump. However, regardless of variable factors it can be stated that a heat pump is a profitable investment even in hard times!

Heat pump Scancool HP291
- Thermal power 1.1 MW, COP 5.8
- Energy produced 63°C hot water
- Heat source ammonia hot gas 26°C

More information:
Business Director Juha Aaltola, Scancool Oy, Tel. +358 50 3570833
Technical Manager Esa Mäkipeltio, Valio Oy, puh. +358 10 3815065

See also attached media release from Valio.

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