Electrifying Industrial Heat in Petfood and Fishfeed Production

Geelen Counterflow developed an electric industrial dryer using heat pump technology to replace fossil gas burners in the production of pet kibble and fish feed. The technology utilizes a self-cleaning heat exchanger to recover waste heat and moisture. A 2022 installation at a Cargill-Ewos plant in Norway created the world's first zero-emissions fish feed factory, reducing energy use and running costs by 75% and eliminating 3,000 tons of annual CO2 emissions. The company has since expanded installations to China, South Korea, and Thailand, targeting markets where the 'spark ratio' between electricity and gas prices makes electrification financially viable.

• Geelen Counterflow developed an electric industrial dryer that replaces gas boilers with a heat pump and a specialized self-cleaning heat exchanger to recover energy from warm, humid air that is typically vented into the atmosphere.
• The installation of a full-sized electric dryer at the Cargill-Ewos aquafeed plant in Bergneset, Norway, in 2022 resulted in the first zero-emissions fish feed factory, achieving a 75% reduction in both energy usage and running costs while eliminating 3,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
• Beyond decarbonisation, the electric dryer technology reduces water consumption by recirculating condensed moisture and mitigates odor problems by trapping smells in the condensed water.
• The financial viability of electrifying industrial heat depends on the 'spark ratio' (the price comparison between electricity and gas), leading Geelen Counterflow to target sales in specific markets including Norway, China, South Korea, and Thailand.

APA

Atari, B. (2026). Electrifying Industrial Heat in Petfood and Fishfeed Production. We Mean Business Coalition. https://www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/blog/electrifying-industrial-heat-in-petfood-and-fishfeed-production/

Chicago

Atari, Basil. Electrifying Industrial Heat in Petfood and Fishfeed Production. We Mean Business Coalition, 2026. https://www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/blog/electrifying-industrial-heat-in-petfood-and-fishfeed-production/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Atari |first1=Basil |title=Electrifying Industrial Heat in Petfood and Fishfeed Production |publisher=We Mean Business Coalition |date=19 June 2026 |url=https://www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/blog/electrifying-industrial-heat-in-petfood-and-fishfeed-production/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{atari2026electrifying, author = {Atari, Basil}, title = {{Electrifying Industrial Heat in Petfood and Fishfeed Production}}, institution = {We Mean Business Coalition}, year = {2026}, month = jun, url = {https://www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/blog/electrifying-industrial-heat-in-petfood-and-fishfeed-production/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }