Navigating Industrial Decarbonization: Energy Consumption, Costs, and Strategies in Spain's Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Sector
The industrial sector in Spain, particularly the food, beverage, and tobacco industry (classified under CNAE 10, 11, and 12), is undergoing significant transformation driven by the urgent need for decarbonization and enhanced energy efficiency. This comprehensive study delves into the energy consumption patterns, associated costs, and strategic approaches being adopted by these industries to align with national and European climate objectives.
The analysis highlights that the food industry (CNAE 10) represents the largest share of final energy consumption, accounting for 82.0% of the total. Within this subsector, the production of heat at various temperature levels is paramount, with low and medium temperature heat production (up to 200ºC) being the most significant energy use, representing 35.8% of the total consumption. This is closely followed by mechanical uses, which account for 13.0% of the sector's energy consumption.
The beverage industry (CNAE 11) exhibits a consumption profile similar to the food industry, with a notable, albeit smaller, contribution from cogeneration for heat supply, representing 6.8% of its demand. In contrast, the tobacco industry (CNAE 12) shows a reversed trend, with a higher reliance on electricity (68.1% of final energy consumption) compared to fuels (31.9%).
Regarding energy sources, fuels remain a dominant component of final energy consumption. In 2021, excluding energy for cogeneration, fuels accounted for 68.7% of the final energy demand, totaling 35,320.32 GWh. Electricity sourced from the grid represented 29.3%, amounting to 15,073.05 GWh. The remaining 2.0% was covered by autogenerated energy from renewable sources and other generators, totaling 1,028.20 GWh.
Cogeneration plays a particularly important role in the food industry, with consumptions reaching 14,961.60 GWh in 2021, and generating 5,105.24 GWh of useful heat for industrial processes. This highlights its significance in meeting process heat demands efficiently.
The study also examines the cost of energy for these sectors. The total energy cost for the food industry amounts to 3,236.57 million euros, while the beverage industry incurs costs of 582.43 million euros, and the tobacco industry 4.13 million euros. Electricity costs are a significant factor, with contracting strategies primarily favoring the free market and the 6.XTD tariff for larger establishments, averaging 14.7 euro cents per kWh. Natural gas contracts also show a trend towards the free market, with average prices of 3.9 euro cents per kWh, and an increasing prevalence with larger establishment sizes.
The impact of energy costs on turnover varies across the subsectors. The food industry experiences an impact of 2.9%, the beverage industry 3.4%, and the tobacco industry 0.5%. Unit energy consumption relative to turnover for the overall sector stands at 0.48 GWh per million euros, with the beverage industry showing the highest ratio at 0.60 GWh per million euros.
Looking at the broader industrial context, this sector accounts for 19.0% of Spain's total industrial energy consumption and 18.0% of its final industrial energy consumption (excluding electricity generation for sale). Notably, the sector shows a strong focus on renewable energy sources, ranking second only to pulp and paper in its proportion of renewable energy consumption. This emphasis on renewable sources, coupled with efforts to improve energy efficiency and optimize procurement strategies, is crucial for the industry's sustainable future and its contribution to decarbonization goals in Spain.