“Europe’s largest” concentrated solar and thermal project turns up the heat

Europe’s largest concentrated solar thermal project has been commissioned in Belgium with a solar field peak yield of 2.7GWh thermal power and storage capacity of 5MWh thermal power.

Global packaging and materials manufacturer Avery Dennison officially commissioned the project built in collaboration with CST expert Azteq and long-duration thermal storage provider EnergyNest.

A total of 2,240 surface mirrors covers roughly 5,540 square metres on site at a production plant in Turnhout and will provide heat equivalent to 2.3GWh of gas consumption.

The project is expected to help Avery Dennison reduce the plant’s emissions by 9% annually, and during the summer months and high-sunshine days will provide up to 100% of the factory’s heat demand.

Six thermal battery modules will be capable of delivering heat on demand both day and night, with the thermal energy being used to provide heat to run the plant’s drying ovens used during the coating process of pressure-sensitive adhesive products and used in industries such as automotive, building and construction, medical devices, and personal care.

“We have big ambitions to tackle climate change and achieve net zero by 2050,” said Mariana Rodriguez, general manager, Avery Dennison Performance Tapes Europe.

“To meet these goals we will look across our industrial processes and identify opportunities to implement new technologies that decarbonise and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

“The successful commissioning of the project in Turnhout is a big step forward in our sustainability plans.”

Avery Dennison’s production plant in Turnhout is also home to a wind turbine which was installed in 2017.