Energy consumption

A cornerstone of Kastbergs' DNA is being sustainable – financially, but also in a range of other areas, such as the green transition. The green transition is a megatrend that we should all address and make an active effort to meet.

The green transition is a priority, not least because we are actively working to reduce our CO2 emissions, with the goal of becoming carbon neutral.

In Denmark, more than 50% of the electricity in our grid is generated from green sources. This share makes Denmark one of the world's leading countries, and thanks to the well-developed grid, which reaches our neighbouring countries via modern cables, we have ample opportunity both to import and export green electricity produced from wind, solar and biomass. We are also based in Herning, centrally located in Mid and West Jutland, not far from where most of the green electricity is produced, which means minimal net loss thanks to the short transmission distance.

In Herning we are tenants of Aage Damgaard, a third-generation company that works with both vision and foresight. Twenty years ago, the company installed a straw-fired boiler that uses its own homegrown straw to heat the entire site, along with several other sustainable solutions.

At the same location, we are taking part in the product development of the next generation of high-tech metering units, which monitor our consumption using sensors and artificial intelligence. This technology gives us detailed information about our consumption and advice on how we can reduce and optimise it. For example, we know which machines use the most energy. One example is our pasteurisation plant, which has to both heat and cool our milk and cream. It will be relatively easy to move this energy consumption to a time of day when electricity is cheaper and, not least, when the share of green electricity is higher. In the future, for instance, we will move this process so that it starts much earlier in the day, e.g. at 3 a.m. At that hour, less electricity is generally used nationwide, so it is cheaper, and once again the share of green electricity in the grid is greater. It is a win-win for everyone.

The green transition, or electrification, is a very important megatrend, on a par with digitalisation. Digitalisation is likewise an integral part of our sustainability programme, in which we have digitalised, and will continue to digitalise, even more processes aimed at reducing our consumption. A good example is that Kastbergs has no sales reps and therefore no fleet of cars driving around on the roads. We use other methods for this kind of task, powered by digital processes.

The green transition is central to our DNA, and we work actively to reduce our carbon emissions and hope to inspire other similar companies to do the same.