SPIE achieves significant CO2 savings through “Steam as a Service” in Amsterdam

SPIE applies its German know-how for the chemicals company Albemarle
 

Amsterdam, February 13, 2019 – SPIE, the independent European leader for multi-technical services in the areas of energy and communications, is building a new modern utility centre that will supply the complete Albemarle’s production site with steam and air as energy sources. The Group set up its “Steam as a Service” process allowing considerable CO₂ savings by recycling surplus heat.

SPIE Nederland has procured this order along with SPIE Energy Solutions GmbH, which has extensive experience in this field. Together the subsidiaries are setting up, maintaining and managing the new installation, which will be supervised 24/7 by a manned control room.

“We call this process “Steam as a Service” as the surplus heat and heat from the process are reused,” explains Ard van Toledo, Sales & Business Development Manager at SPIE Nederland. “The cold water stored in the steam boilers is preheated, meaning that less gas is needed to produce steam and less CO₂ is released into the atmosphere. By closely monitoring and regulating this process, we can reach the highest possible efficiency.”

The new utility centre will feature three steam boilers and a compressed air facility, which will supply clean and dry pressurised air by means of compressors. This means SPIE can guarantee enough steam and air to run the entire plant for the next 10 years.

This is SPIE’s first Steam as a Service contract in the Netherlands. SPIE stands out by having all the technologies, from design, to operation and maintenance under its own management. The combination of various types of modern equipment allows to reuse all the heat released and make significant improvement in overall efficiency. It lowers energy consumption and reliably supplies compressed air and steam while lowering the cost price. In short, a win-win situation for Albemarle and its customers, for SPIE and for the environment.