Environmental Management
This is where you will find information about various projects that are being implemented directly on site. The measures in these projects also come together in the “11er Climate Initiative” and help us avoid and reduce CO2.
100% green electricity from hydroelectric power
Since 2017, all the electricity we use at 11er has come from renewable hydro power. This helps us to further expand our “11er Climate Initiative”. By using electricity from renewable hydro power, we avoid around 3,000 tons of CO₂ each year compared to the Austrian electricity mix.
Deep-freezing with solar energy
By building and expanding our own PV systems on the roofs of our production and deep-freeze warehouses, we are able to use the power of the sun effectively. Whenever the sun is at its strongest, we need a lot of energy to deep-freeze our 11 potato specialities.
Since 2021, we have been using solar energy and have continuously expanded our PV systems. With the latest expansion in 2024, our PV systems reached a capacity of 1.2 kWp. Today, we cover between 60–70% of the energy demand of our deep-freeze warehouses independently through solar power.
The biogas plant on our premises
New plant saves up to 3,300 tons of CO2 every year
After installing our first biogas plant back in 1983, we were able to commission a new, higher-capacity plant in 2017, marking an important milestone in sustainability. With this facility, we now save up to 3,300 tons of CO₂ every year. All of our production residues are converted into biogas of a fuel quality in the new plant. This fuel is in turn used in the daily transport of our potatoes. Click here to learn more about our energy cycle.
Just how does a biogas plant work?
Biomass such as potato peelings is decomposed by an anaerobic process, i.e. without oxygen, in a biogas plant. Adding microorganisms starts a fermentation process that in turn produces the biogas. This means that we can not only avoid CO2 but also contribute to offering alternative sources of energy and help to improve environmental protection.
2024: Consistent use of waste heat
A lot of energy is needed in the production of deep-frozen potato specialities. With our heat recovery system, we use the waste heat from production not only for our processes but also to heat our buildings. This is sustainability in action, as it helps us to avoid unnecessary CO₂ emissions. Every day, the recovered heat is used to heat up approx. 70,000 litres of water for production.
The core element of our system is a two-stage heat recovery process. The hot exhaust air from production is passed through heat exchangers, which capture the heat and feed it back into the production process – for example for hot water preparation, space heating or process heat. The heat generated during the steam-peeling process is also recovered through condensation. This means that in future 11er will be able to use up to 5 gigawatt hours of heat internally every year – about three times as much as before. That corresponds to a reduction of up to 10% in natural gas consumption.
In total, all our heat recovery measures save around 1,540 tonnes of CO₂ annually.
2024: Clean air through biofilters
In addition to heat recovery, the exhaust air from production is cleaned in a new air purification system in several steps using the latest state-of-the-art technology. After cooling, the air passes through an electrostatic filter, which removes fine particles and aerosols. It is then humidified in an air scrubber before being evenly directed through four biofilter modules. These consist of natural materials such as bark mulch and wood fibres, on which microorganisms settle. These microorganisms biologically break down the remaining odorous substances. As a result, the new system reduces odours from production by more than 90 percent – a significant benefit for the surrounding areas.
2020: Use of climate-friendly refrigerant
The existing refrigeration system from 1991 was replaced on account of its age. Replacing the current system will improve the energy efficiency within the company and reduce the energy consumption by roughly 355,000 kWh per year. At the same time, we will be switching to ammonia, a climate-friendly refrigerant with a GWP (Global Warming Potential) of 0.
More information about IWB/EFRE can be found at www.efre.gv.at
2018: Compressed air optimisation with heat recovery
The project aims to increase the efficiency of compressed air generation by optimising the system. This calls for an upgrade of the compressor plant.
Upgrading the compressed air system saves natural gas and electric power so that in the long term, a CO2 reduction of around 210 t/a can be achieved. The main components of the measure consist of a air compressor with built-in heat recovery, including higher-level control technology.
More information about IWB/EFRE can be found at www.efre.gv.at
2018: Heat recovery from the production refrigeration system
The heat extraction from the production refrigeration system of 1 MW with a temperature level of 35°C/25°C will be used by our company to supply the central heating energy for the ventilation systems. These require a heating power of around 2.6 MW, power that can be provided primarily and for at least 3,500 hours each year from the heat loss from the refrigeration system.
The heat extraction from the refrigeration system can help avoid CO2 emissions of around 970 t/a in the long term through savings in natural gas. The reduced operation of the evaporative cooling towers also leads to a lasting added value of the investments. The project consists of the installation of a heat exchanger including cooling and heating piping.
More information about IWB/EFRE can be found at www.efre.gv.at
2014: Increasing the use efficiency of the refrigeration system
The aim of this project is to greatly increase the use of heat from the refrigeration system. To this end, we are optimising and making heat management more flexible, so as to develop new possibilities for use. A heat level of 85 °C is required so that the heat can be used all year round for production processes and heating purposes.
This is achieved via a large buffer storage tank, which is raised to the required high temperature level of 85 °C by supplementary heat from a CHP (combined heat and power) plant. By extending the possibilities for heat utilisation, natural gas can be substituted and further CO2 savings of around 360 t/a can be realised in the long term. The measure comprises a buffer storage tank of 70,000 litres, supplementary HVAC technology, approx. 300 m of district heating pipe and the necessary electrical and control technology.
More information about IWB/EFRE can be found at www.efre.gv.at
Responsible use of water
We need water to produce our 11er potato specialities. With our own wastewater treatment plant, we can recycle the large volumes of water that are used in our production process. At the same time, we can so reduce our CO2 emissions. We are convinced that water-saving and energy-efficient plants have to be used, above all in production, if we want to make a lasting contribution to climate protection.
Optimising the steam boiler plant
The project makes sense for use because optimising the plant also helps increase the efficiency of the steam boiler. The furnace has to be upgraded and made more flexible for this purpose.
This optimisation of the steam boiler plant saves natural gas and electric power so that in the long term, a further CO2 reduction of around 95 t/a can be achieved. This package of measures consists of replacing the furnace (gas burner) by a new combustion air blower with O2 and CO regulation, including the necessary electrical and control technology.
More information about IWB/EFRE can be found at www.efre.gv.at