New electrification fact sheet for the food and beverage sector
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
5 June 2026
The food and grocery manufacturing sector represents 32% of Australia's total manufacturing output - and it runs overwhelmingly on gas. Process heat for cooking, pasteurisation, drying, and sterilisation accounts for the majority of energy use across the industry, making electrification one of the most powerful levers available for cutting costs and emissions.
The Australian Food and Grocery Council and EnergyLink Services have developed the Australian Food and Grocery Council Electrification Fact Sheet, a practical guide to making that transition happen.
The document maps the full electrification landscape for food and beverage manufacturers - from the commercial drivers pushing the shift (volatile gas prices, net-zero commitments, government incentives, and reputational advantage) to the real barriers holding it back (upfront capital, electrical capacity constraints, process complexity, and organisational inertia) - and offers concrete solutions to each.
Valuable information in the fact sheet include:
State of the industry - an overview of energy demand trends, electrification drivers and barriers, and how to build a compelling business case, including break-even COP analysis, energy market trends and available financial tools such as certificate schemes (VEECs, ESCs, REPs) and green finance options.
Thermal requirements by subsector - a detailed breakdown of electrification opportunities across bread and cereals, meat and seafood, dairy, fruit and vegetables, beverages, and household products, with real Australian and international case studies for each.
Technology guide - practical fact sheets covering the five key electric technologies available today: industrial heat pumps, mechanical vapour recompression (MVR), electrode boilers, electric thermal energy storage (eTES) and infrared/radiant heating, including best-use cases, pros and cons and savings examples.
A decision-making matrix - a flowchart to help identify the right technology based on your process heat requirements, from low-temperature hot water through to superheated steam.
Electrification order - a step-by-step framework prioritising energy efficiency and heat recovery before capital investment in new technology.
Electrification design checklist - a site-readiness checklist covering energy data, equipment specifications, electrical infrastructure and process requirements needed before commissioning a feasibility study
Whether your facility is just beginning to explore electrification or is ready to build a business case, this fact sheet provides the framework, the data, and the practical tools to move forward with confidence.
