Olymel

Context

With more than thirty processing plants, Olymel is the largest meat producer and processor in Canada. The company wanted to improve their energy productivity. Olymel called on the expertise of ATIS Énergie to improve its environmental performance while reducing its energy consumption and GHG emissions. Atis Énergie has been supporting Olymel since 2017, and to-date has carried out projects in 4 plants: Saint-Esprit, Yamachiche, Vallée-Jonction and Sainte-Rosalie.

Our Accomplishments

Turkey projects:

• Design, supply and installation of a thermal energy recovery system for cooling systems condensers (10-15 MW per plant)
• Design, supply and installation of a thermal energy recovery system for plant effluents
• Design, supply and installation of a renewable thermal energy production system using a 2 MW heat pump
• Design and supply of high-quality thermal energy recovery systems for pig hair burners
• Design, supply and installation of a system for the production and distribution through heat distribution network of thermal energy, as well as a domestic hot water production system
• Design, supply and installation of a thermal energy production and heat distribution network system for a fresh air supply system (80,000-120,000 CFM per plant)
• Design and implementation of an Energy Management Information System (EMIS) for collecting and archiving operational data on energy production by process and production unit

Results

• Up to 80% reduction in GHG emissions
• Over 30% reduction in total energy consumption
• Increased capacity of the condensing systems of the plant's main coolers
• Implementation of thermal energy recovery and production networks with sufficient capacity to satisfy present and future energy requirements
• Design and installation of energy recovery systems for pig hair burners and effluents integrated into the heat distribution network
• Design and installation of energy distribution network to supply energy to fresh air units (80,000 CFM to 120,000 CFM)
• Design and implementation of systems for the production and storage of renewable thermal energy from energy recovery
• Thermal energy consumption and production monitoring system to monitor and detect specific energy trends and deviations

Le Groupe Bel

Context

For the construction of its new cheese production plant in Quebec, Bel Group called on ATIS Énergie to design and implement an innovative thermal energy production system based on resource sharing between 2 plants. The mandate: a concept for the implementation of the plant’s building mechanics and for the integration of a system for the management and production of thermal energy between 2 plants.

Our accomplishments

• Energy Audit (2017)

• Detailed engineering for building and process mechanics for the construction of the first Babybel production plant in Canada

• Project for the design and supply of the modular system for the production and distribution of thermal energy

• Design and programming of the control system for the production and monitoring of the plant's thermal energy production

• Design, supply and programming of a dynamic ventilation control system to ensure air pressure conditions are maintained between production rooms, according to different production modes

• Energy audit of a Bel plant in Portugal

• Installation of systems for the recovery of cold and milk, and for preheating pasteurization

• 85 to 90% reduction in GHG emissions, i.e., more than 1,500 tons of CO2 equivalent

• Reduction of the heating and cooling production capacity required by the shared services between two plants (Bel and Riviera)

• Real-time automatic balancing of ventilation airflows to maintain relative pressures between different production rooms

• Heating of ventilation systems (production and offices), more than 95% of the time with direct heat recovery from refrigeration systems and production processes

Maison Riviera

Context

In 2013, rapidly expanding company La Laiterie Chalifoux (now La Maison Riviera) wanted to review its energy production and management methods. Atis Énergie assisted them with the setup of the services required for these new operations. The project was carried out in 3 phases between 2014 and 2016.

Our accomplishments

• Design and supply of a centralized refrigeration [alt: cooling] system (phase 1) and a chilled water loop
• Design, supply and installation of a milk cooling recovery system and a milk preheating system (phase 2)
• Installation of effluent energy recovery systems and an energy storage system
• Design, supply and installation of a ventilation system powered by energy from waste (phase 2)
• Design and supply of a thermal energy production system using a high temperature heat pump (phase 3)

Results

• 80% reduction in GHG emissions
• Replacement of the silo refrigeration system (600 tons in total) by a centralized system (200 tons) including a cooling distribution network
• Installation of thermal batteries
• Implementation of a renewable thermal energy production system

General Dynamics, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield

Context

This propellant production unit of GD took steps to reduce energy consumption at its Valleyfield site, which comprises more than 150 buildings. Atis Énergie was mandated to carry out the initiative.

Our accomplishments

• Site-wide energy audit completed in 2008
• Design and supply of turnkey projects for the energy recovery, management and distribution system in the most energy-intensive sector of the plant
• Design of distillation tower energy recovery system
• Design, supply and installation of energy recovery network
• Design of renewable thermal energy production system
• Design of energy production and supply system for new factory buildings

Results

• The 2016 project enabled the implementation of networks for the recovery, distribution, storage and recycling of thermal energy from renewable sources
• Installation of several kilometres of thermal network
• Implementation of renewable thermal energy production infrastructure
• Savings of 9,000 MWh/year in electricity and more than 200,000 m3/year in natural gas

Fromagerie St-Albert, Saint-Albert, Ontario

Context

The St-Albert cheese factory has been in operation since 1894 and today has more than 100 employees. In 2013, the factory was completely destroyed by fire. With its reconstruction, the company got a fresh start (2015). The factory then adopted new methods for steady growth, while limiting the environmental impact of its production. Atis Énergie received the design mandate for all of the building's mechanics, including energy services for the cheese factory, store, restaurant and offices (energy production, hot water, refrigeration and ventilation).

Our accomplishments

• Engineering and deployment of all energy and mechanical systems for the building, including a heating, glycol and chilled water loop
• Provision of equipment: process cooling and heating system, including networks and ventilation for the factory, offices and restaurant
• Design and supply of the control system for the building mechanics

Results

• Systems for the recovery of cold and milk, and for preheating pasteurization
• Cold, milk and pasteurization preheating recovery systems;
• New heating and cooling networks to meet the company’s present and future energy needs
• Condensation energy recovery loop (100%) of the refrigeration system
• Reduction of GHG emissions by more than 60% compared to a typical plant
• Optimized energy costs
• Individually controlled office heating and cooling system (per office, hot or cold) powered by energy from the plant infrastructure

Nutrinor, Alma

Context

With a focus on sustainable development, the agri-food cooperative Nutrinor took measures to reduce its carbon footprint and energy costs. Based on the results of an audit conducted in 2011, Atis Énergie proposed a list of projects and undertook the design of energy production and management systems that meet Nutrinor's objectives and ambitions. These projects were carried out between 2013 and 2017.

Our Accomplishments

• Design and supply of a new, 100% fresh-air plant ventilation system
• Design and supply of a "medium temperature" heat recovery network powered by energy from the chiller’s condensers
• Installation of a heating and cooling system for the offices powered by energy from the heat recovery system
• Design and installation of a high-temperature energy production and management system
• Design, supply and integration of an energy storage system

Results

• More than 80% reduction of GHG emissions and thermal energy consumption
• 15% reduction in electrical energy consumption
• Improved air quality
• Increase in installed heat production capacity
• Increased availability of cold via process improvements
• Installation of the first high temperature heat pump (2014)

La Fromagerie des Basques

Context

To achieve its goal of developing operational autonomy both in terms of waste management and the production of thermal energy, Fromagerie des Basques turned to Atis Énergie in 2011 to carry out a project for the production, management and recovery of energy resulting from the implementation of a whey biomethanation system.

Our accomplishments

• Design and supply of a biogas energy recovery system (anaerobic digester)
• Design and implementation of a thermal energy production and management system
• Design, supply and installation of a cooling system providing cold to cheese process the fridges and ripening rooms
• Design and installation of a fresh air supply system
• Design and installation of ripening rooms
• Installation of a heat loop network to supply heating and cooling to the cheese plant and three adjoining buildings

Results

• Awarded a first world prize from ASHRAE in 2014 for the biomethanation project and the energy savings
• Installation of a thermal network for cheese production and to supply four buildings
• 70% reduction in GHG emissions
• Operational autonomy for waste management

Fromagerie Perron

Context

Fromagerie Perron wanted to minimize its energy consumption while improving its productivity. Atis Énergie supported the cheese producer in achieving this ambitious goal.

Our Accomplishments

• Design and supply of a whey cooling system
• Design and supply of the hot water production system for the Clean-In-Place (CIP) system used to clean process equipment
• Design and supply of the renewable thermal energy management and production system, including high temperature heat pump
• Design, supply and installation of recovery networks, thermal energy production (hot and cold) and networks to supply customers in 2 separate plants

Results

• More than 60% reduction in GHG emissions
• New infrastructure
• Renewable heat production
• Cold production
• Heating and cooling distribution recovery network in its plant
• Network to recover and distribute common heating and cooling to another plant

Laiterie Charlevoix

Context

Laiterie Charlevoix wanted to develop its operational autonomy both in terms of managing its residual materials (whey and white water) and its energy. It turned to Atis Énergie to carry out a project for the production, management and recovery of energy from residual materials through the implementation of anaerobic digestion and energy management systems.

Our Accomplishments

• Implementation of a biogas energy production system (methanation)
• Integration of a plant-based post-treatment system (phytology)
• Design and implementation of a thermal energy production and management system for heat production
• Installation of heat loops to supply energy to the cheese plant and an adjoining building
• Design and installation of ripening rooms

Results

• 60% reduction in GHG emissions
• Operational autonomy for managing residual materials
• Installation of a thermal network supplying three buildings

The project won first prize in the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency category at the 2012 AQME Énergia gala, and in fact claimed first prize in every category at the gala.

Coop Agrilait, Fromagerie St-Guillaume

Context

Fromagerie St-Guillaume, Atis Énergie’s first “cheese” client, wanted to integrate new energy services into the plant’s mechanics during a plant expansion that included the addition of new administrative offices. The cheese producer has made important changes in its energy management, resulting in significant energy savings.

Our Accomplishments

• Implementation of projects to reduce the energy consumption of the whey drying system by more than 60%
• Improved energy efficiency of 2-effect evaporator and whey drying system
• Design and supply of ventilation system for new administrative buildings and plant
• Energy recovery and management (including a centralized cooling system)
• Design and supply of ripening rooms
• Increased capacity of the plant’s cooling system

Results

• Increased drying capacity of whey drying system
• More than 65% reduction in GHG emissions
• Transformation of fridge operation for glycol operation
• Use of heat pump for independent controlled environment control by administrative office area
• Implementation of significantly more efficient milk pasteurizers
• Installation of thermal batteries