Avery Dennison has commissioned a concentrated solar thermal (CST) platform and thermal storage unit at its production plant in Turnhout, Belgium.

The CST has 2,240 surface mirrors, with a solar field peak yield of 2.7 GWh thermal power, alongside six thermal storage modules with a capacity of 5 MWh thermal power.

The platform covers roughly 5,540 square metres on site. It will reportedly contain the largest installation of parabolic mirrors combined with thermal energy storage in an industrial setting in Europe.

In operation, the total installation will provide heat equivalent to 2.3 GWh of gas consumption, reducing the plant’s greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 9% annually – compared to current rates. During summer months and high-sunshine periods, it will provide up to 100% of the factory’s heat demand.

By supplying zero-carbon solar energy, the project will help provide heat to run drying ovens, which are used during the coating process of pressure-sensitive adhesive products manufactured at the site. These products are used in industries such as automotive, building and construction, medical devices, and personal care.

For this project, Avery Dennison collaborated with CST organisation Azteq, thermal energy storage provider EnergyNest, and local community group Campina Energie, which helped secure a portion of the project financing.

Avery Dennison performance tapes Europe general manager Mariana Rodriguez commented: “We have big ambitions to tackle climate change and achieve net zero by 2050. To meet these goals we will look across our industrial processes and identify opportunities to implement new technologies that decarbonise and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.”

Avery Dennison recently reported a 53% decline in net income in Q2 2023, with the CEO attributing this to a slower recovery pace than expected for the company.