Solar panels and a complementary green power purchase agreement (PPA) signed between HEINEKEN and EDP will power Rondo’s Heat Battery, supporting the company’s brewing and malting operations in Portugal.

The Central de Cervejas e Bebidas Brewery and Malting Plant, part of HEINEKEN Company in Portugal, is taking a significant step towards decarbonization by operating with clean, zero-emission steam. The project is the result of a partnership between HEINEKEN, EDP, and Rondo Energy, and marks the first major Heat-as-a-Service (HaaS) agreement in Portugal. The initiative combines solar power and thermal storage to decarbonize industrial processes through heat electrification, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and setting a precedent for sustainable industrial operations in the country.

According to EDP, the HEINEKEN Group—through Grupo Central de Cervejas, Rondo Energy, and EDP—has signed an agreement to install a 100 MWh thermal storage battery at the Central de Cervejas e Bebidas Brewery and Malting Plant in Lisbon. Once completed, it will be one of the largest heat batteries in the beverage sector worldwide. The project will help transform the facility into one of the most sustainable production centers globally, operating entirely with clean, zero-emission steam.

This partnership also represents the first major Heat Purchase Agreement (HPA) in Portugal, leveraging an on-site combination of renewable energy generation and storage. The project remains subject to customary administrative and regulatory approvals.

Rondo’s Heat Battery stores renewable electricity as high-temperature heat, delivering safe, continuous, and zero-carbon steam. This innovative solution eliminates the need for fossil-fuel boilers, providing a reliable source of renewable heat. As part of the project, EDP will install a 7 MWp solar plant on the grounds of Central de Cervejas e Bebidas to power the Rondo battery, which will then supply the steam required for the brewery’s production processes.

Additionally, the battery will be charged with renewable energy from the grid through a long-term, flexible PPA of 25 GWh per year between Central de Cervejas e Bebidas and EDP. Through this agreement, EDP will optimize energy delivery, ensuring flexibility and maximizing the use of renewable electricity generated.

This tailor-made solution enables HEINEKEN to adopt advanced, sustainable technology without adding operational complexity—further reinforcing its commitment to decarbonizing its production and leading the transition towards clean energy in the beverage industry.