Climate & Resources
Whether using green electricity or our own combined heat and power plant for energy generation - we attach great importance to respectful treatment of nature and efficient use of energy. We therefore regularly check our energy consumption and optimize it using tailor-made concepts.
Our Efficient Environmental Management
As a premium brewery, we know how important impeccable natural products and first-class raw materials are. That is why protecting the environment and protecting natural resources are among our most important principles. Our environmental management aims primarily at responsible and efficient use of energy. To do this, we regularly put our energy consumption to the test and optimize it with tailor-made energy concepts. We also make a contribution to reducing CO2 emissions. By the end of 2020, the Bitburger brewing group adjusts as Germany's first brewery group its product portfolio at all locations to a climate neutral level.
In 2005 we started up our first cogeneration unit (CHP) for our own energy generation. In summer 2014, a second CHP plant with two gas engines was commissioned. A CHP is a system that generates both electricity and heat according to the principle of combined heat and power (CHP) and is therefore highly efficient. The advantage of a CHP unit compared to other types of power plants lies in the significantly higher efficiencies that are achieved. In addition, the electricity generated by the CHP plant is used only within the brewery, which helps to relieve the strain on the power grids.
We are also continuously working on reducing our CO2 emissions. Since 2008, this has been reduced by around 60 percent across the entire brewing group. In addition, as part of the "ZNU goes Zero" initiative of the ‘Zentrum für Nachhaltige Unternehmensführung‘ (Center for Sustainable Corporate Management) at the University of Witten/Herdecke, we have set ourselves the goal of prducing at a climate neutral level at each of our breweries. And that happens in five steps: status quo recording, avoidance and reduction of emissions as well as use of green electricity and finally the compensation of unavoidable emissions. By the end of 2020, we have reached our goal to be Germany’s first brewery group to brew at a climate neutral level.
After the brewing process, our beers can ferment, mature and store in peace. We not only give our beers a lot of time, we also ensure that they are adequately cooled - a special quality feature at Bitburger. For this we need large amounts of cooling energy, which we generate with the help of the natural refrigerant ammonia. Ammonia is characterized by its very good energy efficiency and is also climate neutral. We run it in a closed cycle, which means that it does not come into contact with people or the environment
At the beginning of 2012, the Bitburger brewery completely switched its purchased electricity to certified green electricity. We decided on a direct marketing model from the range of ‘Grünstrommodelen‘ (‘green electricity models‘). The electricity supplied to us must be demonstrably 100 percent derived from renewable energies. The implementation of the model is checked using the ‘ok power‘ criteria.
By purchasing CO2-neutral electricity and using CHP technology, we are making our contribution to the energy transition.
