ShareBETTED: Training events bring energy efficiency tools to the dairy sector
The BETTED project has held a series of training and outreach events in recent weeks, including a webinar for professionals co-organised by the IIR, a seminar and interactive roundtable in Madrid, a webinar on large heat pumps and a presence at Food 4 Future in Bilbao. Together, these activities are helping dairy companies turn energy efficiency knowledge into practical action.
The project BETTED, Boosting Energy Transition of ThE Dairy Value Chain, is co-funded by the EU LIFE Programme and led by the University of Brescia, Italy. It supports companies across the dairy sector in adopting energy efficiency measures, renewables and heat pump technologies, targeting a primary energy saving of up to 75% across the value chain. The IIR contributes its expertise in refrigeration and cold chain systems to the project.
Webinar for professionals co-organised by the IIR
The webinar "The Dairy Sector Energy Transition in Practice: Technologies and Tools for Professionals", organised by the IIR together with project partners IEECP and EHPA, concluded on 28 July 2026. The session presented the technologies and practical tools developed within the BETTED project to professionals working across the dairy value chain. The recording is now available for those who were unable to attend.
→ Access the webinar recording: https://youtu.be/DIwD3BmtZUY
Training seminar and roundtable in Madrid
On 30 June 2026, project partners FIAB and ESCAN hosted the final Spanish training seminar and an interactive roundtable in Madrid, bringing together dairy companies, industry representatives and technology providers. The seminar presented practical energy solutions for the dairy industry, including heat pump systems, photovoltaic installations and biogas applications, illustrated with real examples from the food sector.
During the roundtable, participants tested the BETTED Toolbox and explored how it can be applied across dairy value chains to identify energy saving opportunities and support investment decisions. The session closed with an exchange on common challenges and possibilities for future collaboration.
Webinar on large heat pumps in dairy processing
On 18 June 2026, the webinar "Say Cheese! Decarbonising Dairy with Heat Pumps", organised by project partner EHPA as part of its Heat BIG series, examined the role of large heat pumps in dairy processing. Speakers presented concrete results from industry: a French milk and cheese manufacturer is saving 125,000 euros per year and has cut CO2 emissions by 10% after replacing gas steam boilers with heat recovery chillers and a high temperature heat pump, while FrieslandCampina has reduced CO2 emissions at one of its cheese factories by a third since installing a heat pump to upgrade waste heat into steam.
Simone Zanoni of the University of Brescia, coordinator of the BETTED project, noted that the dairy industry still relies on fossil fuels for 60 to 80% of its energy needs while facing volatile milk prices and EU climate targets, making heat pumps and waste heat recovery a timely part of the solution. The recording and presentation slides are available on the project website.
BETTED at Food 4 Future 2026
The project was also promoted at the sixth edition of Food 4 Future, Expo FoodTech, held in Bilbao on 27 and 28 May 2026. Dissemination activities at the FIAB stand presented BETTED alongside other European innovation projects to key stakeholders from across the food industry.
Get involved
The IIR continues to welcome expressions of interest from Europe-based dairy companies wishing to receive tailored energy efficiency training.
→ Express your interest in BETTED training
In addition, the free BETTED e-learning programme remains open to professionals across the dairy value chain.
→ Access the e-learning programme at www.escansa.org
For more information, visit betted-project.eu or join the Industry Informative Network at iin-betted.eu.
BETTED is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA.