Rethink Energy 4 Food

Accelerating the energy transition in the Flemish food industry

Why this project?

The energy crisis has made us realise that the food industry depends on the availability and cost of energy systems for several links in the food processing process to remain profitable. With the rise of renewable energy sources (e.g. mechanical vapour recompression, latest generation high-temperature heat pumps) and more energy-efficient technologies (e.g. microwave technology, vacuum cooling, optimised ventilation cooling), it is possible to reduce dependence on fossil energy carriers. In addition, flexible control of the various electrical and thermal energy sources will be an additional focus in the future.

Methodology and expected results

Rethink Energy 4 Food is a four-year collective (COOCK+) research, development, and dissemination project aiming to accelerate the energy transition in the Flemish food industry. The project consists of a knowledge platform and four focus tracks.

Knowledge platform

In the knowledge platform, we will introduce companies to various technologies and applications to harness their energy transition. The knowledge from the project will be further disseminated through demonstrations, workshops, webinars, and publications. We will also focus on matchmaking between energy companies and food companies by organising an annual Energy 4 Food event, guided trade show visits, and Meet&Peek excursions. Besides this, there is also room for following up on new technologies and their applicability to the food industry.

Focus track 1: Electrification of oven processes

In this track, we exploratively and demonstratively investigate the potential of inline microwave and infrared-based baking processes for three model products. A comparative study with conventional gas-based oven processes looks at energy efficiency and product quality.

Focus track 2: Sustainable heat supply for temperature-intensive food processes

The techno-economics and applicability of high-temperature-generating technologies are investigated. From this, a methodology will be developed to match certain energy requirements and processes with the right technology through techno-economic analysis. The methodology will be validated through two generic demonstration cases.

Focus track 3: Energy Resilience – Flexible control of different energy sources

Within the Energy Resilience focus track, we are investigating how to deal flexibly with a fluctuating energy supply without compromising process stability. For this, we are looking at energy storage technologies to, e.g. store residual heat or generated energy for later production runs and, on the other hand, energy management systems to use the energy supply as efficiently as possible. We also look at macro trends in energy systems for the food industry using the BE-TIMES model.

Focus track 4: Innovatively making cooling sustainable

This track looks at how to make cooling/refrigeration in the food industry more sustainable. For this, we look at the optimisation of existing ventilation systems, on the one hand, and we also do a comparative study between a new technology, vacuum cooling, and convection cooling on both energy consumption and product quality, on the other hand. We are also conducting a desktop study on integrated renewable cooling systems.

Target group

The project targets Flemish food companies, machine builders, energy technology providers, energy consultancy companies, and sensor and software companies.

Project partners

Flanders’ FOOD and Flux50 are managing and coordinating the project with guidance from Fevia Flanders. The project is carried out in cooperation with:

University College VIVES
KU Leuven
Ghent University
VITO
Howest

Keen to join?

The project starts in February 2024 and runs until January 2028 (project duration is 4 years). To make the results as relevant as possible, each focus track has a supporting group, also called a user group. This group consists of food companies, machine builders, energy technology suppliers, energy consultancy companies and sensor and software companies.

Advantages of participating in the user group:

Follow up the project results
Getting to know industry-relevant demonstrations (pilot infrastructure, pilot demonstrations in the real industrial environment)
Close contact with the researchers
Networking with other members of the user group

Participation fee and conditions

Participation is possible until the end of the project. There are two conditions that must be met for participation in the user group of a focus track:

Membership of Flanders’ FOOD and/or Flux50 for the duration of the project
Annual project contribution to the guarantee fund*:
- SE: 1000 euros/year
- ME: 2500 euros/year
- LE: 5000 euros/year