Gpi Tanks XL supplies a 6,000 m³ hot water buffer tank
Royal Swinkels is an independent family business that produces beer, non-alcoholic beer, malt and soft drinks, including well-known brands such as Bavaria, La Trappe and Swinckels. At the brewery in Lieshout, large-scale brewing takes place daily, a process in which heat plays a crucial role. To make this energy-intensive process more sustainable and ultimately be able to produce without net CO₂ emissions by 2050, Royal Swinkels is implementing measures within its energy transition plan to reduce natural gas consumption and related emissions. A logical next step was to store and reuse residual heat from the production process more effectively. This required a large tank to serve as a hot water buffer within the brewery. The company enlisted Gpi Tanks XL to realise this solution.
Sander Berger, Project Manager at Royal Swinkels, was involved from the start and explains:
“Within our energy transition plan, we continuously look at how we can make the brewing process more sustainable. We saw opportunities to make better use of residual heat by storing it and deploying it again.” The hot water buffer tank stores residual heat from the brewing process and enables reuse during peak moments, helping Royal Swinkels reduce its footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future. “The experience gained at Holland Malt helps us take another step in Lieshout towards a future without natural gas,” Sander adds. The completion of the buffer tank marks an important milestone in the brewery’s energy transition and aligns with its ambition to keep energy within the cycle and minimise waste.
“The engineering process went smoothly and very efficiently. With one session in Lieshout and one in IJsselstein, everything was immediately clear, and we could move forward right away.”
Choosing Gpi
Sander explains why Gpi was selected: “We have been working with Gpi for years. They previously built our energy storage tanks, so it was logical to involve them again in this request. Time was a decisive factor; this tank was essential for several projects within our energy transition plan. That made it an important element in choosing Gpi.”
On-site assignment
The assignment for Royal Swinkels involved a large hot water buffer tank for storing water at around 95 °C. The tank was constructed on site from lean duplex and is fully insulated. It is also equipped with a caged ladder, a top platform, and railings to ensure safe work at height. The tank is approximately 28 metres tall and has a diameter of 17.5 metres, suitable for its intended role in the process.
“All in all, we can look back on a fantastically executed project, in which Gpi delivered an excellent product and left a lasting impression.”
About the collaboration
Sander reflects positively on the project: “We had a similar project in the past that didn’t go as smoothly, but we still included Gpi again in the tender process. And with success. We clearly saw the ‘lessons learned’ reflected in both the engineering and execution. The on-site team was highly motivated and worked accurately together, ensuring the project went well from start to finish. All in all, we can look back on a fantastic project in which Gpi delivered a great product and left a lasting impression.”
The result
With the commissioning of the new hot-water buffer tank, Royal Swinkels is taking a concrete step toward further sustainability of the brewing process. The installation increases the storage capacity for hot water, enabling the brewery to better handle peak heat demand and use residual heat more efficiently. “By commissioning this energy storage tank, we can phase out more steam by using hot water, resulting in savings in natural gas consumption and thereby CO₂ emissions,” Sander explains. This installation not only marks an important milestone within the brewery’s energy transition plan, but also provides a sustainable foundation for future optimizations.
