This project aims to develop novel equipment to reduce steam production costs and emissions in food processing, essential for sterilization, cooking, pasteurization, drying, and more. Mechapres is a Cambridge-based startup, developing a patented compact steam-generating heat pump with integrated thermal storage for Food & Drink manufacturing. This system recycles waste heat to produce steam at 50% lower cost than conventional fossil-fuel boilers, while completely abating scope 1 CO2 emissions. Current solutions rely on large centralised units connecting different processing lines. Integration costs (e.g. heat exchangers, piping) can reach 100% of Heat Pump CapEx. This hinders the viability of small to medium-scale systems typical of Food&Drink. Instead of large, custom-built centralized systems connecting multiple processes, modular, decentralized small-scale units with standardized components integrated at single processing lines are more cost-effective. Less engineering complexity, less piping, lower losses. Mechapres is working toward this, creating a compact steam-generating heat pump. This project will enable Mechapres to adapt existing prototype components and develop new ones, creating 3 modular plug-and-play retrofit integrations for common food processing applications in Eastern England. The National Centre for Food Manufacturing will provide guidance and support in assessing the solution's replicability across Eastern England. Tastebuds Collective a leading Food & Drink trade organisation, based in Norfolk, will support the dissemination activities.

This proposal directly reduces carbon emissions and direct costs by providing decarbonised heat at the temperatures required in dairy farms and dairies. It will bring together 4 novel technologies - innovative solar thermal heating, a novel solid-state heat pump with no refrigerant, an innovative steam heat pump with built in thermal storage and a novel sensor bus system that is a first of its kind in being able to monitor each heating element of the solar thermal system. These technologies will be installed at Appleby Creamery in Cumbria to provide steam and hot water for the dairy's processes. These technologies are directly applicable to the drive toward net zero, not just for the dairy supply chain but for heating in general, including space and water heating and process heat for other industries and are applicable globally.