Heineken has taken a major step toward its 2030 net-zero operations target, announcing a new partnership with energy producer EDP and California-based industrial heat innovator Rondo Energy to deploy a renewable-powered Heat Battery system at its Vialonga Brewery and Malting Plant near Lisbon. The initiative marks the first large-scale Heat-as-a-Service project in Portugal and one of the most ambitious industrial decarbonization efforts in the beverage sector globally.

Pioneering Industrial Heat Decarbonization

Industrial heating accounts for a large share of global energy use and emissions, with most processes still powered by fossil fuels. Founded in 2020, Rondo Energy developed a breakthrough solution that converts intermittent renewable electricity into continuous, high-temperature heat, suitable for replacing traditional boilers in manufacturing, brewing, and chemical operations. Under the agreement, EDP will install a 7 MWp solar plant on-site and provide an additional 25 GWh of renewable electricity through a long-term flexible power purchase agreement (PPA). This clean power will charge Rondo’s 100 MWh Heat Battery, which stores energy as thermal heat and delivers zero-carbon steam to power the brewery’s operations. At full capacity, the system will eliminate the need for fossil fuel-fired boilers and avoid approximately 6,600 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually, equivalent to taking more than 3,000 cars off the road each year.

“We’re thrilled to deploy our first Rondo Heat Battery in the region and support Heineken in its goals,” said Eric Trusiewicz, CEO of Rondo Energy. “We look forward to helping industries across Iberia cut costs, reduce emissions, and capitalize on the region’s growing renewable energy potential.”

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A New Business Model: Heat-as-a-Service

In a departure from traditional capital-intensive industrial decarbonization models, the partnership introduces a Heat-as-a-Service framework, under which EDP will design, build, own, and operate the integrated solar and heat battery system. Rondo will supply its proprietary battery technology, while Heineken will simply purchase low-carbon steam as an operational service rather than manage the equipment itself. This approach lowers barriers for industrial clients by removing upfront costs and operational complexity, effectively making decarbonized heat “plug-and-play” for energy-intensive sectors.

“Deploying the world’s largest heat battery in the beverage industry is not just about technology; it’s about redefining what’s possible,” said Miguel Stilwell d’Andrade, CEO of EDP. “Together with Heineken and Rondo, we are raising the bar for sustainability, one pint at a time.”

Aligning Innovation with Heineken’s Climate Roadmap

The project directly supports Heineken’s Brew a Better World strategy, which includes a commitment to net zero emissions in its own operations by 2030 and across its entire value chain by 2040. The Vialonga installation scheduled to go live in April 2027 will serve as a blueprint for other breweries and industrial facilities worldwide seeking to decarbonize thermal energy.

“By combining our strengths with EDP and Rondo, we’re unlocking new ways to power our brewery operations more efficiently,” said Magne Setnes, Heineken’s Chief Supply Chain Officer. “This collaboration proves that innovation and partnership can deliver real, measurable sustainability outcomes across our global supply chain.”

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A Model for Industry Wide Transformation

The Vialonga initiative exemplifies how technology, finance, and operational expertise can converge to decarbonize heavy industry. By leveraging Portugal’s abundant solar resources and Rondo’s high-efficiency thermal storage, the project demonstrates a scalable path to 24/7 renewable heat, a key challenge in the global transition to net zero. It also reflects a broader shift in industrial energy strategy: replacing fossil-based process heat with renewable, dispatchable thermal storage that ensures both reliability and cost-effectiveness. As governments and corporations accelerate toward climate neutrality, the Heineken EDP Rondo partnership stands as a proof-of-concept for how industrial heat decarbonization can become both commercially viable and operationally seamless turning clean energy innovation into a new cornerstone of sustainable manufacturing.

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