Many industries need heat as a part of their processes, and this often comes from the burning of fossil fuels. Such is the case with the production of Sake, or Japanese rice wine, where both hot and cold water are required as part of the brewing and bottling process. Water is typically heated by natural gas, an imported energy source which is a source of carbon dioxide emissions in Japan.
Electricity can get the job done
The Hakutsuru Sake Brewing Company, located in Kobe, opted for electricity when building its new bottling facilities. State of the art heat pumps were installed to provide both the hot and cold water required.
Thanks to this solution, suggested by Kansai Electric Power Company, operating costs and CO₂ emissions were reduced by 24% and 34% respectively compared to the conventional system such as gas-fired boilers to supply hot water and refrigerators, freezers or chillers to supply cold water. An ice thermal storage system was also included for additional cooling capacity, limiting peak hour power demand
Japan’s electricity mix is increasingly carbon-free, with the restarting of nuclear power plants and the increased use of renewable energy, particularly solar power.
Electrification of industry–a solution for climate change.
