Food ingredient plant implements an electrification strategy

Schneider Electric has partnered with Dutch plant‑protein cooperative Royal Avebe to electrify one of its production facilities, without requiring reinforcement of the electricity grid beyond the site’s existing maximum connection.

The Avebe plant in the Netherlands produces starch products based on potato starch and potato protein for use as an ingredient in food product applications, as well as other applications such as animal feed, paper and adhesives.

Avebe engaged Schneider Electric’s Advisory Services team to help with a rethink about how the site manages energy — including how it uses and exchanges energy with the grid. The result is an integrated electrification strategy built on three pillars: unified power and process control, real-time energy intelligence, and dynamic load management.

The platform consolidates data from over 1000 points across the site, including 542 smart medium-voltage relays into a single operational view. When grid demand rises, the system automatically shifts electrical loads to operate within the site’s contracted grid limits and technical constraints. When renewable energy is abundant and local grid demand is low, the plant absorbs the surplus and actively supports grid stability.

This electrification roadmap is also contributing to Avebe’s climate targets, including 30% emissions reduction by 2030 and continuous 1.5% annual energy‑efficiency improvement.

“Further electrifying our production processes is an important step in making our operations more sustainable,” said Joyce de Vries-Pieterman, Director of Communication & Public Affairs, Avebe. “Together with Schneider Electric, we are demonstrating that it is possible to make concrete progress toward future-proof and more energy-efficient production within the limits of what our existing grid connection allows.”

“Grid constraints need not mean decarbonisation delays. With the right combination of electrification, open automation, and digital intelligence, manufacturers can act now,” said Neil Smith, President, Consumer-Packaged Goods, Schneider Electric.

Erik Weinans from Royal Avebe and Neil Smith from Schneider Electric at Hannover Messe. Image: Supplied

This solution includes the following technology from Schneider Electric:

• EcoStruxure Foxboro DCS for unified process control
• EcoStruxure Electrodynamic Controller for real-time load orchestration
• EcoStruxure Control HMI for operator visibility and intervention
• EcoStruxure EPAS for engineering environment and configuration

The approach is designed to scale, and can provide a way to move forward on decarbonisation plans without waiting for large-scale grid infrastructure expansion.

The Avebe plant is now positioned to integrate onsite renewable generation and advanced IIoT asset monitoring as the next step, building on the digital foundation already in place.

Top image credit: iStock.com/ruizluquepaz