HEINEKEN Spain and ENGIE Spain have unveiled Europe’s largest solar thermal facility for industrial use. The project marks a pioneering achievement in the country’s energy landscape, eventuated by the opening ceremony in Seville attended by the teams behind the initiative and the government’s top leadership. Attendees included Etienne Strijp, President of HEINEKEN Spain, Carmen Ponce, the brewery’s Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, and Loreto Ordóñez, CEO of ENGIE Spain.
The facility delivers 30 MW of power, stores 68 MWh, and spans eight hectares on the HEINEKEN Spain factory grounds in Seville. It is expected to cut fossil gas consumption by more than 60%, enabling the brewery to nearly eliminate its carbon footprint by about 7,000 tonnes of CO2e annually. The system relies on solar energy to heat and cool water in a closed loop, using renewable energy that is abundant and emission-free. The plant is scheduled to become fully operational by the end of 2024 and will provide 84% renewable energy for both electrical and thermal needs.
Currently in operation, the solar thermal plant blends thermodynamic principles with concentrated solar power technology inside a factory setting for the first time. This combination drives a breakthrough that enhances energy reliability and doubles the production capacity of superheated water for industrial use. Using water as the heat transfer fluid also eliminates the need for synthetic oils that could harm the environment.
Etienne Strijp, President of HEINEKEN Spain, highlighted the long-standing commitment to sustainability within the brewing sector. He noted that the project positions Spain prominently in the shift to renewable energy and enables beer production and packaging at this facility to run on renewable power. He emphasized that products produced here contribute to strengthening local economic activity and environmental stewardship in the region.
Loreto Ordóñez, CEO of ENGIE Spain, explained that the project showcases ENGIE’s support for industrial customers by leveraging technical expertise and a capable team to enable sustainable energy alternatives. She thanked HEINEKEN Spain for entrusting ENGIE with this initiative, which aims to deliver cleaner and more efficient energy throughout production processes.
The construction timeline reached a record 12 months, surpassing initial projections. The assembly involved exclusively Andalusian companies, totaling 150,000 hours of labor, equivalent to about 18,750 days. The project carried an investment of 21 million euros and was implemented under a public-private cooperation framework with regional, national, and local authorities. It is co-financed and managed by the European Regional Development Fund and supported by the Institute for Energy Diversification and Conservation. The alliance between HEINEKEN Spain and ENGIE Spain operates through a Thermal Purchase Agreement in which the brewery pays for energy and provides the land. ENGIE commits to delivering fully renewable energy at a pre-agreed price; after 20 years, ownership of the solar thermal plant transfers to HEINEKEN.
The initiative is designed to be replicable across other industries that require process heat without emitting CO2. It also promotes partnerships that advance collective commitments and positions Spain as a leading example in adopting these essential actions within a broader global emissions reduction effort.
Absolutely HEINEKEN: A roadmap toward net zero in manufacturing
Just eighteen months after unveiling the 2025 sustainability targets under the DecideHEINEKEN framework, the brewer has already made notable progress toward decarbonizing factories by 2025. The company aims to hit half of this target this year. Clean energy usage is already significant, aided by solar thermal plants in Seville and Valencia, a photovoltaic installation in El Andévalo, Huelva, biogas production across four facilities, and a biomass boiler in Jaén. The company projects reaching 62% renewable energy by 2024 as solar thermal plants reach full capacity.
These efforts support HEINEKEN’s broader objective of achieving net zero by 2040. The Science Based Targets initiative recently approved global net zero targets for production and value-chain operations, marking HEINEKEN as a leader in the brewing industry’s sustainability journey. The company continues to pursue these milestones with a practical, on-the-ground approach to cleaner energy and responsible manufacturing.
[Citations: HEINEKEN Spain and ENGIE Spain project announcements and public statements from company leaders at the Seville opening event.]