BeverGreen

Green digital twin as the basis for the sustainable transformation of the beverage and brewing industry

The central challenge of our time, our economy and our society is to act sustainably, which also impacts the food industry. From reducing plastic packaging and preventing food waste to protecting biodiversity and human rights – these issues have become an unavoidable topic of social and political discussions in which the food trade plays a central role. As a result, sustainable and standardised principles must be embedded into every stage of the value chain, from production to consumption. Advancing digitalisation enables innovative methods for analysing energy and resource consumption and establishing optimised cycles.

The BeverGreen project now aims to take the next step towards sustainability in beverage production, especially in the brewing industry. This project focuses on the development of an assistance system based on application-specific ontologies. Ontologies are structured models of knowledge areas and conceptual systems that capture energy-relevant information in the form of digital models. These models form the basis for what are known as green digital twins and enable precise integration and evaluation of data, including CO2 equivalents, to identify optimisation potential. Examples of aspects that can be mapped include energy consumption, energy generation and the carbon footprint. Utilising machine learning (ML) methods also makes it possible to discern patterns and correlations, which can be strategically deployed to conserve energy and resources.

A unique feature of the project is its focus not only on enhancing production efficiency but also on creating data-driven business models grounded in sustainable principles. Regarding applicability, the BeverGreen project intends to actively employ the models and solutions developed in production. One sample use case involves demonstrating how to cut carbon emissions by chemically bonding CO2 in a cyber-physical experimental brewery. In addition, this project aims to drive/optimise production through intelligent process control and energy- and emissions-focused production programme planning.

The BeverGreen project aids in the ecological transformation of the economy by creating transparency around energy consumption. It will build on these aspects to facilitate analyses and provide decision-making support. The project’s objective is to demonstrate how digital technologies can drive sustainable change in the beverage industry, thereby serving as a model for other sectors.

Consortium:

• Bitburger Braugruppe GmbH
• Augustiner-Bräu Wagner KG
• Kontor-N
• RIF Institute for Research and Transfer
• TU Munich