Israeli Beer Producer Tempo Contracting for Crushed-Rock Thermal Energy Storage
Israel’s largest beer brewer Tempo Beverages is investing in decarbonization through a unique and on-site thermal energy storage system projected to save it $7.5 million in energy costs over 15 years.
Brenmiller Energy, the company which has developed a heat-to-power process by storing energy in crushed rocks, is contracted to deliver Tempo Beverages its 32-MWh bGen thermal energy storage system next year. Brenmiller this week announced manufacturing of the bGen components is expected to be completed and shipped for on-site assembly in January at the brewer’s site in Netanya, Israel.
Commissioning of the BGen thermal energy storage system is expected sometime in 2025. The thermal energy storage system will replace Tempo Beverages’ fossil fuel boilers. Brenmiller Energy also is based out of Israel.
Brenmiller Energy’s thermal storage technology essentially takes electricity produced during low-cost periods and stores it as high-temperature heat in crushed rock, then discharges that heat and produced steam into the customer operations. The project could reduce Tempo Beverage’s emissions by 6,200 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually and eliminate the need for 2,000 tons of heavy fuel, according to the bGen manufacturer.
Tempo Beverages produces beer brands such as Maccabee, Goldstar and Nesher and also distributes soft drinks. It was the first commercial beer brewed in Israel beginning in the 1930s.
Heineken International owns a 40% stake in the company.
Read our EnergyTech coverage of Decarbonization in Breweries and Distilleries
Numerous breweries and distilleries globally are seeking decarbonization projects to participate in the commercial and industrial energy transition. For instance, Anheuser-Busch, Budweiser, New Belgium Brewing and whiskey distiller Diageo have contracted with clean energy developers for renewable, hydrogen and energy efficiency projects in recent years.
