Saxony-Anhalt's sugar industry: Biogas pioneer for climate protection!

Saxony-Anhalt's sugar industry: Biogas pioneer for climate protection!

more and more one hears from the important role that bioenergy plays in the climate -friendly transformation of the sugar industry. So also in Zeitz, where Saxony-Anhalt's Energy Minister Prof. Dr. Armin Willingmann visited Südzucker AG. In the sugar factory there, he presented a funding notice of 130,000 euros from the European Fund for Regional Development (ERDRE) to improve biogas production. This is another step into the sustainable future of sugar production, which is mainly obtained from sugar beet in Germany, knows [dubisthalle.de] (https://dubisthalle.de/sachsen-anhalt-mulmminister- Unterstutet- Biogas-Bei-Klimaneutralen-Talen-Ter-sugar industry).

Südzucker AG, which intends to obtain the majority of its energy from renewable sources, invests a total of around 650,000 euros in the project. Among other things, the focus is on the installation of sliding ring seals on 27 pumps and the exchange of the operating compressor. A very important part of this project is the climate protection contract that the company concluded in October 2024 with the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK).

long -term goals and measures

The way to climate neutrality by 2050 is not only a lip service, but also requires clear goals and concrete measures. Südzucker AG has set an ambitious reduction targets for its CO2 emissions, as can be seen in the southern Zucker website. In areas 1 and 2, the CO2 equivalents are to be reduced by 50% by 2030. In order to achieve this goal, the company is questioning fossil fuels such as coal and is increasingly switching to natural gas and biogas. An important step that continues to target the expansion of renewable energy sources.

A constant improvement in energy efficiency also plays a central role. As early as 2022, a decline in CO2 emissions in areas 1 and 2 by impressive 24% could be achieved. The ambitious plans for 2023 even provide a reduction of 50.4%.

role of bioenergy

bioenergy has positioned itself as a key resource in the fight against climate change. As described on bioenergie.fnr.de, the conversion from heating to pellet heating could save several tons of CO2 per year and could achieve strong effects if used across the board. In addition, a relatively high production of bioenergy is implemented in Saxony-Anhalt, with around 482 systems that produce 3 million megawatt hours of electricity and 2.2 Terrawatt hours of biomethane.

The future of bioenergy in Germany remains somewhat uncertain. Federal Minister of Economics Katherina Reiche has the task of promptly presenting a strategy for green gases. Projects with a scope of 33 million euros are also currently being supported from the EFRE, which has shown that the demand for sustainable energy sources is constantly growing.

summarized: The sugar industry in Germany is faced with a significant transformation that will not be manageable without biogas and other renewable energies. This is a journey in which everyone has to pull together - from the company to politics to consumers.