Tetra Pak launches heat pump system to electrify pasteurisation

Tetra Pak has expanded its Factory Sustainable Solutions portfolio with its new Tetra Pak integrated heat pump system for pasteurisers, designed to help food and beverage (F&B) producers reduce energy use and cut costs.

Pasteurisation is a critical process for food safety and quality, but traditional systems are energy-intensive, typically relying on fossil fuels for heating and electrical chillers for cooling. As F&B producers seek to improve efficiency and sustainability, optimising energy use in this process offers a clear path to reducing both costs and emissions through smarter heat recovery and reuse. The Tetra Pak Integrated Heat Pump system builds on the company’s existing pasteurisation technology by introducing a high-efficiency electric heat pump that recovers and reuses heat from the pasteurisation process. For every 1 kWh of electricity used, the system can recover up to 2 kWh of otherwise wasted heat, making it up to three times more efficient than a traditional boiler, the company says.

By combining heating and cooling in one integrated solution, the system also optimises energy use across the pasteurisation process. It upgrades low-temperature waste heat to higher temperatures and generates ice water for cooling. This dual function helps lower total energy consumption and operating costs, while supporting producers in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and exposure to volatile energy prices.

A typical dairy production line, for example, could reduce energy consumption for pasteurisation by up to 77%, making operating expense (OPEX) savings of up to €230,000/year and reducing carbon emissions by up to 650 tonnes per year.

Nicole Uvenbeck, director factory sustainable solutions and OEM components at Tetra Pak, comments, “Food and beverage producers need smarter ways to reduce energy use without compromising performance. The new heat pump system delivers up to three times the efficiency of conventional boilers, recovering 2 kWh of heat for every 1 kWh of electricity. By combining deep processing expertise with a global network, we work closely with customers to select the right solution and ensure seamless integration into their operations, supporting their shift toward more resilient, energy-efficient production.”

Fiona Liebehenz, vice president key components, plant solutions and channel management at Tetra Pak, says, “We’re proud that our long-standing experience in developing processing solutions for the food and beverage industry, together with a strong focus on innovation, has led to another important step forward. By blending advanced technology with a deep understanding of the daily challenges F&B producers face, we’ve developed a solution designed to make one of the most energy-intensive stages of food production more efficient.”