The implementation of a proposal by a thermodynamics professor demonstrates that it is possible and profitable to convert a water and energy-devouring factory. 

The industry is known for its high consumption of resources, including water and fossil fuels, and its pollution. However, a proposal made five years ago by physicist and thermodynamics professor Valeriano Ruiz of the University of Seville, to turn a factory into a self-sufficient, CO2 emission-free center that recycles its water supply, has become a reality. His vision, although he didn’t live to see it (he passed away in 2021), is now Europe’s largest industrial solar thermal plant, powered by Engie and located at the Heineken brewery in Seville. The solar installation, which spans eight hectares, has started operations and significantly reduced fossil gas consumption. The company expects to exceed 85% self-sufficiency this year. The remaining energy required is electric, generated by a solar plant in Huelva and a biomass plant in Jaen. Heineken has invested 30 million euros in sustainability over the past two years, with two-thirds of this amount spent on the Seville plant. The approach differs from other companies that merely purchase additional renewable energy to offset their emissions without reducing pollutant sources. The solar power project will be replicated at Heineken’s Valencia plant, launching on February 28. The creators believe the system can be applied to any industrial process that requires heat and has land adjacent to the factory.