How do we decarbonize the food and beverage industry? What are the challenges & barriers to decarbonization?
The food & beverage industry produces a large number of diverse products that are both consumed domestically and exported to international markets. Key markets include grain and oilseed milling, animal slaughtering and processing, fruit and vegetable processing, dairy product operations, sugar manufacturing, beverage manufacturing, and bakery operations.
About two-thirds of end-use energy consumed by the food and beverage industry at manufacturing plants is used in manufacturing processes (the remainder is used for non-process uses or lost in onsite steam and electricity generation and distribution).
Since over half of all emissions are from process heating, a core area of interest is in low carbon process heating solutions. These processes include evaporation, pasteurization, drying and dehydration, baking, cooking, and frying.