AtmosZero, a US-based manufacturer of industrial electric boilers, has created a drop-in boiler that takes the heat in the air and turns it into decarbonised steam. It only makes sense that New Belgium Brewing Co., also headquartered in Fort Collins, would be one of the first to embrace these zero-emission boilers.
This first-of-its-kind modular electrified boiler will replace fossil-fuelled industrial boiler systems, helping companies of all sorts reach their green goals. AtmosZero is partnering with manufacturing leader Danfoss for its first pilot project with New Belgium Brewing.
“Boiling water to generate process steam accounts for a quarter of all industrial emissions, and in a brewery facility like New Belgium’s it represents the majority of their on-site fossil fuel consumption,” says Addison Stark, CEO of AtmosZero, in a press note.
AtmosZero notes that more than 7% of primary global energy is burned to boil water for process steam. Now there’s a way for craft breweries to decarbonise their steam operations and electrify the boiler room.
Pilot project
This New Belgium pilot project will demonstrate a 650-kW thermal electrified boiler at is headquarters in Fort Collins in late 2024. AtmosZero is testing the initial prototype system at Colorado State University’s Powerhouse Energy Campus in Fort Collins.
Together, the companies are integrating Danfoss Turbocor compressors, which are oil-free, to reach the high efficiencies required for the electrified boilers systems.
“Danfoss Turbocor has been re-defining the cooling and heating industry with disruptive oil-free, digital, lower carbon footprint compressors, enabling a more sustainable tomorrow across commercial buildings and infrastructure,” said Ricardo Schneider, President of Danfoss Turbocor.
New Belgium Brewing continues to challenge the industry with greener practices and campaigns that grow awareness on the importance of brewing ecology and social responsibility. Its flagship Fat Tire Amber Ale became America’s first certified carbon-neutral beer in 2020.
What does that mean exactly? New Belgium’s Fat Tire brand has earned carbon-neutral status by SCS Global Services using the international recognised PAS 2060 standard.
New Belgium has installed and embraced with its brewing facilities, supply lines and philanthropy initiatives to earn the certification – solar arrays, LEED-certified buildings, recycling efforts, carbon credits, and the AtmosZero boiler.
Through the project, AtmosZero and New Belgium will work with Fort Collins Utilities, which plans to deliver 100% renewable electricity to the brewery by 2030 to evaluate, plan, and upgrade the electrical systems at the brewing facility.
AtmosZero is supported by leading climate technology investors and the US Department of Energy. The AtmosZero leadership team is comprised of recognised industrial heat and power experts who have held strategic positions at the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy and Colorado State University. (www.atmoszero.energy).
