Global beer giant Heineken is trialing a cutting-edge technology at its Vialonga brewery near Lisbon, Portugal, involving the use of massive thermal batteries to generate steam for the brewing process, aiming to cut carbon emissions from production.

Heineken is collaborating with U.S. energy storage firm Rondo Energy and Portuguese energy company EDP to deploy a 100-megawatt-hour Rondo thermal battery system at the site. This system uses renewable electricity to heat thousands of tons of specially designed refractory bricks to temperatures as high as 1,500 degrees Celsius, converting electrical energy into stored thermal energy. When steam is required, air is passed through these super-heated bricks, generating high-temperature steam that can directly replace traditional fossil-fuel boilers. The system is designed to provide 7 megawatts of steam output and can operate continuously, 24 hours a day.

The project employs a "Heat as a Service" model, where EDP is responsible for building a 7-megawatt peak photovoltaic power plant on-site and securing a long-term power purchase agreement from the grid to supply electricity to the thermal battery. This model allows Heineken to access low-carbon steam without taking on the operational complexities of the equipment. The system is scheduled to become operational in April 2027, at which point it will rank among the largest thermal battery projects in the global beverage industry.

For Heineken, this initiative targets one of the most challenging areas to decarbonize in beer production: high-temperature steam supply. This steam is essential for key steps like boiling wort and sterilization, processes that have traditionally relied heavily on natural gas boilers with significant associated carbon emissions. Heineken aims to decarbonize all its production sites by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions across its entire value chain by 2040. It is estimated that this project will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 6,600 tonnes annually once operational.

The project has secured joint support from the European Investment Bank and the Breakthrough Energy Catalyst fund. Heineken's Chief Supply Chain Officer, Magne Setnes, stated that the project not only helps reduce reliance on traditional energy sources but also demonstrates how practical innovation and strong collaboration can deliver tangible improvements across the supply chain.