PepsiCo, in partnership with energy company Eneco, is undertaking a project to electrify the heat processes at its snack manufacturing facility in Broek op Langedijk, where products like Lay’s and Cheetos are produced. This initiative, called Project VOLT, represents the first large-scale sustainable electrification of a snack plant for PepsiCo globally, and the first high-temperature thermal storage electrification project of its kind in the Dutch food industry.
The project aims to phase out natural gas and switch to renewable electricity to generate the high-temperature heat required for crisp-frying. The commissioning process is underway, with the anticipated grand opening in Spring 2026.
Innovative Technology Designed for Significant Emissions Reduction
The core of the project involves deploying an advanced thermal storage unit in collaboration with KRAFTBLOCK. This system uses an Electrical Resistance Heater (E-heater) to heat air to 800 oC, transferring this heat into a thermal battery composed of processed iron slag—a sustainable by-product from the metal industry—for highly efficient, long-duration storage. The stored energy is then used to heat thermal oil for the frying process, effectively decoupling the facility from fossil fuel reliance.
In the initial phase, this electrification solution is designed to reduce the plant’s CO2 emissions by approximately 50%, eliminating over 8,500 tonnes of CO2 annually. This effort targets a 75% reduction in factory emissions by 2030. The project has the potential to achieve up to a 98% reduction in subsequent stages, demonstrating a clear aim to further decarbonise the facility going forward.
Calling for Policy Support to Accelerate the Clean Transition
There is a persistent challenge that renewable energy currently remains more expensive than energy derived from fossil fuels. To ensure projects like Project VOLT can continue and be scaled across the sector, EU policymakers need to actively incentivise the clean transition. This includes supporting the wider rollout of renewables and driving significant investment into the necessary electricity grid infrastructure and capacity, which is essential for the food and drink industry to meet its long-term climate neutrality goals.
This project, which is supported by a DEI+ subsidy from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), acts as a model for achieving decarbonisation in industrial processes.
