Soft drink maker uses heat pump solution to reduce emissions

GEA will supply Britvic, a UK soft drink manufacturer, with a heat recovery system at its Beckton site in London. Installation is set to begin in coming months, and when complete, the system is expected to result in cutting the factory’s carbon emissions by an estimated 1200 tonnes annually.

The manufacturer produces 2000 drinks every minute at its Beckton site, including Robinsons, Tango and Pepsi MAX. GEA is supplying the site with two industrial ammonia heat pumps and a large thermal storage tank.

For Britvic, the project is a step towards its goal of reducing direct carbon emissions by 50% by 2025 and achieving net zero by 2050.

“The challenge with this brownfield project was how the improvements support us on our journey to reduce our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions as part of our science-based targets and our Healthier People, Healthier Planet sustainability strategy,” said Sarah Webster, Director of Sustainable Business at Britvic.

How it works

Britvic will convert much of its process heating from natural gas steam boilers to a carbon-free heat recovery system driven by heat pumps. The system, designed and supplied by GEA, reuses low-temperature waste heat from the existing production system. Previously released into the atmosphere, this waste heat will now be used to heat hot water to 92°C, which will be distributed throughout the plant.

Existing refrigeration plant room at Britvic with three GEA BluAstrum chillers. Their waste heat will also feed the new heat pumps. Image credit: GEA

Britvic believes this will decarbonise 50% of the site’s heat demand by using less gas in the traditional steam boilers, shifting the heat source away from fossil fuels. A valved connection is provided for up to 750 kW of heat, which will be recovered in the future from other sources.

According to Matthew Hadwen, Beverage Sales Manager at GEA’s Liquid & Powder Technologies Division, it is a challenge to upgrade legacy industrial steam heating systems and integrate them with heat pump technology, but GEA can supply heat pumps and integrated process heat exchanger skids as one solution, which provides a good solution for Britvic.

Top image credit: Britvic