
The High Performance Kitchen (CAR) of Serhs Food Mataró consolidates their sustainability commitment positioning itself as a reference in the collective catering sector, investing in a new photovoltaic station for self-consumption. During the summer months have been carried out works for the installation of 435 solar panels on the roof of the building with a power of 200 kWp, which will generate about 250,000 kWh per year, a high percentage of the total energy needed by the High Performance Kitchen (CAR) and offices, avoiding the emission of 61 tons of Co2 each year.
The company Solar Tradex, located in the Tecnocampus of Mataró, has been in charge of the project, which has been executed impeccably according to schedule. In technical terms, the monocrystalline solar modules are highly efficient and can produce a maximum power of 460 Wp. The station is equipped with solar inverters, a self-supporting aluminum structure with 10% inclination, a monitoring equipment with one app to control the main solar indicators, and a TV that will display this data on the CAR reception and a weather station, among other elements.
This new investment is expected to be amortized in 3 years and has a useful life of 30 years. The entire installation of the CAR has been designed and equipped following criteria of minimization of environmental impact and energy consumption, and this new photovoltaic station has now been added. The CAR has:
– Its own physical-chemical treatment plant with sludge decanter.
– Steam boiler with condensate recovery tank.
– LED lights
– Autoclave with cooling tower
– Refrigeration plant with glycol water
– Cardboard compaction
– Cleaning with low-pressure cleaning plants
– Highly efficient cooling equipment
– Maximum food utilization (no foodwaste).
– Ecodesign project for fast food packaging. Special mention at the Catalonia Ecodesign Award 2017.
The High-Performance Kitchen is also positioned as the most sustainable option at the level of preparation of cooked dishes if we compare it with a conventional kitchen based on 8 environmental indicators analyzed by the consulting firm INÈDIT, a recognized name in the sector: energy consumption, carbon footprint, logistics distribution, local suppliers, circular packaging, reduction of food waste, waste and cleaning products. At the energy level, the electricity consumed in the CAR is 100% of renewable origin and comparatively has a cost of 2.15 kWh/kg food, which is 3.85 times less than what a restaurant can use for kg of food (8.30 kWh/kg) or 25% less than a school kitchen (2.88 kWh/kg). In addition, with this new photovoltaic station, the energy will also be local, green and km0, which means a greater alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations and applied to SERHS policy.