Frutarom expands Biogas capacity in Switzerland

Frutarom Health Biogas plantFrutarom health, based in Wadenswil, Switzerland, has managed to increase biogas electrical energy production in its plant by 15%.

The energy produced by biogas uses waste materials and is categorised as CO2-Neutral. Frutarom was praised by this expansion in 2012 when it was awarded with a certificate of CO2 reduction by the Swiss energy agency. This recognised that the Wadenswil facility does not contribute to the rising amounts of CO2, which is currently affecting climate change through the greenhouse effect.

Another award Frutarom received was the Nature-made quality mark, which indicated the company held special respect for the environment. The mark also certifies that the energy created by Frutarom health is from 100% renewable sources such as water, sun biomass and wind.

The new equipment, installed in the Swiss plant on the 18th of September 2013, was the latest technology of CHC (combined heat and power). This installation will now increase the production of renewable electrical energy corresponding to 100,000 kWh/year. This amount of energy is equal to 100m cubed of petrol. Also, electricity produced from biogas generates much less CO2 than conventional energy. In fact, 1kW of electricity produced by biogas prevents 7000kg of CO2 release per year. So the total power of heat and electricity produced by biogas equipment is now 2,600,000kWh per year.

The Wadenswil factory is now 15 years old and was one of the first industrial production sites to invest in biogas. This was when it was not well known, according to Holger Riemensperger, general manager of Frutarom health. Holger says, “Frutarom is committed to producing pure, high equality products with minimal damage to the environment.”

The whole process of biogas works by organic waste containing energy. This can then be converted by fermentation with biogas equipment to produce heat and electrical energy. The process is entirely natural and takes up to 45 days. The equipment consists of two generators, which create heat and electrical energy. The electricity created provides for up to 40% of the sites electrical needs, whereas the heat supplied can keep the facility warm in the winter and cool in the summer when it is put through a heat exchanger.

Frutarom continues to minimise its potential impact on the environment by the production of EFLA, which extracts lines of healthy ingredients, which has now been complemented by a biogas plant and air purification system. Together, they produce clean water and clean air, as well as renewable energy.

– Joseph McCarthy

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