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Energy plans for breweries in Alberta
 

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How much energy do breweries use?

Energy usage in breweries varies depending on size, location, and product. Refrigeration generally creates the largest electrical load, while brewing consumes the largest amount of natural gas (used for heat).

Energy usage breaks down into the following two primary components:

  • Electrical Energy uses electricity for refrigeration, packaging and compressed air, which consumes approximately 70% of a brewery's overall energy costs.
  • Thermal Energy is natural gas used in the brewing process to generate hot water and steam. Thermal energy is also used for packaging and general building heating. This makes up the remaining 30% of the energy costs.

An understanding of both components can particularly help smaller breweries better understand how to make the brewing process more energy efficient.

Source: https://www.brewersassociation.org/attachments/0001/1530/Sustainability_Energy_Manual.pdf

How can breweries improve energy efficiency?

There are many low-cost measures that can be utilized to help reduce energy costs without adversely affecting working conditions. Here are a few energy-saving solutions to help your brewery save money and become more efficient in sustainable practices.

Conduct an energy audit

Conducting a thorough test on current energy consumption at your brewery is the first step to improving energy efficiency. The energy audit will provide a better understanding of where energy is being consumed and identify which systems or processes could reduce energy consumption. Then, through maintenance and optimal performance, you'll be able to increase both productivity and the longevity of the methods critical to your operation.

Adjust refrigeration and cooling temperatures

Refrigeration consumes a large portion of the total electrical energy used by most breweries, averaging about 35% of the total electricity expenditures. Changing your refrigeration temperature by 1 degree can reduce energy usage by nearly 1% to 2%.

Also, inadequate insulation, leaving doors open, and allowing warm air to invade cold storage areas can contribute to waste. By reducing these particular aspects, you could save up to 20% on the total electrical energy used for cooling.

Ensure best operational practices

Engage staff on how to conserve and use energy more efficiently. Display signage around the work areas to remind staff to shut off equipment when not in use, turn off lights where lighting is not required, check walk-in coolers to ensure defrost timers are set properly and report leaky or damaged equipment as soon as possible. These are simple ways to prevent waste and keep energy costs down.

We're more than just a retail energy company. We strive to ensure our business customers have the tools and resources they need to get the most out of their energy service.

Our large and small business customers value the security of the ultimate buying power and access to the best energy rates on the market. Alberta has never had more choices available in energy options than it is now. Energy plans are not one-size-fits-all in the vast deregulated energy market. This can make trying to compare electricity rates in Alberta complicated and overwhelming. But we're here to simplify things.

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Energy plans for breweries are not one-size-fits-all

As market-rate prices rise, now's the perfect time to secure your business energy rates. We offer guaranteed rates and flexible plans. You can lock in your electricity or natural gas rate for up to five years, or bundle and save to get the best value for your business.

 

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There are other ways to reduce energy costs for your business.

To see what other cost-cutting things your can do, select from one the categories that matches your business stye:

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