UV technology to reduce energy consumption in food pasteurisation by more than 90%
The Danish company, Lyras A/S, has developed a pioneering and green alternative to the conventional pasteurisation method. By using UV light, Lyras can reduce the energy consumption associated with pasteurisation by more than 90%, improve the quality of the products and simplify production.
The pasteurisation technology used by many food companies today is both energy-intensive and product-degrading. The pasteurisation is based on heating, which can cause a breakdown of vitamins and in some cases changes the taste of the product.
Lyras has developed a new pasteurisation solution which uses UV technology instead of heat treatment. Thus, avoiding a negative impact on the quality of the product and at the same time reducing energy consumption by more than 90%.
A sustainable solution for an energy-heavy market
Food production companies face challenges in relation to the green transition. New solutions often require major replacements of complex equipment, which can be an obstacle. This also applies to the conventional pasteurisation equipment, which is incredibly complex, as heat treatment of e.g. colostrum requires the product to go through many processes.
“One of the great advantages of our solution is that it is simple to implement. The solution is far less complex compared to conventional equipment. This means that it can be easily set up. The product has an enormous development potential and can be used in many parts of production in many types of production companies,” says Rasmus Mortensen, CEO of Lyras.
Development through collaboration and foundation funds
With a curiosity about technology and a desire to create a more sustainable industry, the journey for Lyras started as a thesis project. Investments from, among others, Innovation Fund Denmark have made it possible, in close collaboration with Aalborg University, to gather the necessary knowledge that is the basis for the sustainable pasteurisation solution.
To ensure the quality of their products, Lyras has worked closely with the food industry. In this process, Thise Dairy has been an essential partner. They have given Lyra the opportunity to test the durability of new designs and to investigate the effect on different products. In similar collaborations with several Danish and foreign companies, Lyras has also uncovered the possibilities of using their cold pasteurisation solution to process a myriad of different product types such as milk, juice, plant drinks and wine.
“I think Lyras has a strong concept. They have great ambitions, and here in the climate debate I see even greater potential in technology and many application possibilities in the food industry,” says Jens Møibæk, Technical Supervisor at Thise Dairy.
A sustainable solution with great potential
The next step for Lyras is to go beyond Denmark’s borders, and already now several companies have been interested in implementing the solution in their production.
“Every time when even one of our smallest plants replaces a conventional one, it has the potential to save the company up to 100 tonnes CO2 emissions annually and enormous sums on the bottom line. The plant is designed to be implemented in any type of production, and the product has therefore created great interest in the market,” says Rasmus Mortensen, CEO of Lyras.
Source: Innovation Fund Denmark (in Danish)